President of the Jamaican-German Society, Cecile Clayton (left), with Reverend Father R.M. 'Jim' Parkes, priest in charge Christ Church at the Society's 20th anniversary service at Christ Church, Vineyard Town, yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
The Jamaican-German Society, one of the oldest friendship organisations in the island, kicked off its celebration of Germany Week yesterday with a religious service at Christ Church in Vineyard Town, Kingston.
The organisation was formed in 1954 under the name Die Freunde Deutschlands (The Friends of Germany). In 1968, the friends adopted a new constitution and with it came a change of name - The Jamaican-German Society.
German culture in Jamaica
The society is concerned principally with the promotion of German culture and language in Jamaica, while its sister organisation, the German-Jamaican Society, headquartered in Bonn, promotes the Jamaican culture in that European nation.
The society offers German language classes, at the end of which participants may sit the Goethe Institute's Zertifikat Deutsch examination and receive the internationally recognised Goethe Institute Certificate.
Week of activities
Monday, September 28: Opening of exhibition on Germany - Hans Stoeckert Suite, Hotel Four Seasons, 18 Ruthven Road, at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, September 30: Film Evening (showing of a contemporary German film with subtitles) at Villa Maria, 33 Seymour Avenue, Kingston 6, 7:45 p.m.
Thursday, October 1: Discussion Forum at UWI re role of Germany in the New World Order, Sybil Francis Seminar Room, Social Welfare Training Centre, 5 p.m.
Friday, October 2: German Food Festival at Hotel Four Seasons, Ruthven Road, noon until 11:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 3 : Jamaican-German Society Open House - Villa Maria, 33 Seymour Avenue.