What is an international conference center doing in Holzhausen? And what does "Karimu" actually mean? Those who ask these questions will hear a story about courage, patience – and a few llamas.
The Beginning: An Honest Stocktaking
It all began in 2008. At that time, it became clear: the guest area at the Wycliff Centre was outdated, barely used, and cost more than it generated. Three options were on the table: abandon the centre and start fresh somewhere else. Continue as before. Or dare something entirely new.
The first two options were quickly ruled out – for one simple reason: the site had a history that no one wanted to let go of.
Wycliff Grounds 1972
A Plot with History
In 1969, Wycliff purchased a piece of land in Holzhausen – not from a single owner, but from around a dozen different farmers. Many of those involved considered it a miracle that it had worked at all. Over the decades, the center had grown. It became a place of learning, of encounter, and for many people even a temporary home.
Simply giving up this legacy was out of the question. Instead, the goal was to take on responsibility: for the center, for what had been created there, and for what might still come.
HIckengrundstrasse 47
Five years of thinking, then acting
What followed was no quick decision. For five years, various committees examined, consulted, and discussed – through surveys among potential guests and in dialogue with Wycliff members. The guiding idea behind it: the new venue should be a place where people can meet one another – and, for those who wish, also encounter God.
In 2013, Wycliff members voted by a large majority in favour of a new building: 50 double rooms, several conference rooms. In the summer of 2016, the time had finally come – the Karimu conference centre was inaugurated.
What "Karimu" means
The name comes from the Swahili language and means "generous". The name reflects what is meant to define the house: hospitality, openness, and the conviction that generosity connects people.
Throughout the entire building, the idea of encounter is reflected – in the conference rooms, the guest rooms, and also in the design of the lobby. Many details reference the international work of Wycliff and tell of languages, cultures, and people from all over the world.
Visitors from South America – on four legs
And then there was the matter of the llamas. A local animal owner kept two of these long-necked creatures throughout the entire construction phase, and they would stroll past the construction fence almost every day, thoroughly inspecting everything. As if it were an official inspection. It is hard to imagine a more charming welcome for an international conference centre – in the middle of a small German village, with a view of the world.
Author
Angelika Marsch was head of Wycliffe Germany from 2000–2014.
