The exchange program unfolded across 2024 and 2025, with the German delegation visiting Australia for two weeks, followed by the Australian cohort travelling to Germany later in 2025. More than a cultural trip, the initiative served as a platform for connection, education, and national consciousness among young Assyrians.
For many participants, the experience was transformative. One attendee, Dennis, noted that it was through ASA that he first developed a deeper understanding of what it means to be Assyrian, highlighting the crucial role community organisations play in shaping identity.
Building Identity Through Engagement
A core message throughout the exchange was the importance of active involvement in Assyrian organisations. Participants emphasised that without engagement, the risk of assimilation increases significantly.
ASA, in particular, was described as a foundational platform, one that introduces young Assyrians to their identity and equips them to engage with broader aspects of the national cause. By providing a starting point, it enables youth to later contribute across cultural, political, and community spheres.
Current ASA President Edessa Shmoel stressed this point, calling on young Assyrians to develop a genuine love for their nation and take initiative:
“We need to have a love for our nation and get involved in organisations. We have to teach others about our national cause.”
Strengthening Cultural and National Bonds
The exchange also highlighted the richness and diversity within the Assyrian nation itself. Interaction between Eastern and Western Assyrians deepened participants’ understanding of shared heritage, while also exposing them to different cultural expressions.
Reflecting on her experience in Germany, Shmoel recalled moments of cultural connection—such as listening to Assyrian artists Aboud Zazi and Ashur Bet Sargis while travelling with host families—demonstrating how identity is reinforced through everyday experiences.
Participants also took part in community-led activities, including a traditional dance workshop organised by AJM and a Christmas play performed by Assyrian youth in Germany. These events not only showcased cultural continuity but also the organisational strength of diaspora communities.
A Model for Global Assyrian Unity
A defining feature of the exchange was the host-family structure, where participants stayed with fellow Assyrian families. This approach fostered a strong sense of kinship and trust, allowing families to feel comfortable sending their children abroad while building lasting relationships across continents.
The success of the program has already sparked interest from other Assyrian organisations globally, with groups from the United States and Denmark expressing intent to participate in future exchanges.
A Call to the Next Generation
At its core, the exchange carried a clear and urgent message to Assyrian youth: get involved.
Participants echoed a shared sentiment that the future of the nation depends on the commitment of the next generation. As articulated by ASA members:
“If not us, then who? We cannot be the generation that lets our nation down.”
In an era where assimilation and displacement continue to challenge Assyrian identity, initiatives like this youth exchange represent more than cultural engagement, they are an investment in the survival, unity, and future of the Assyrian nation.
Barseen Oshana
