Meet Daniel Ayitey from Ghana

INTERVVIEW WITH FAU ALUMNI (2016-2018) DANIEL AYITYEY FROM GHANA

Senior Officer and Finance Manager at INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE ASSISTANCE PROJECT (IRAP).

Daniel graduated in 2018. He reflected on his diverse student experience, post-graduation path, and current role helping refugees find safety. During his time at Friedensau, Daniel was part of a vibrant, diverse student community.

“We had people from Ethiopia, Tanzania, Myanmar, and many other parts of the world.”

He recalled.

“It was a very international group. Getting to know different cultures and hearing varied perspectives on various subjects was an incredible experience.”

After graduation, Daniel took a deliberate step: he spent a year intensively learning German to reach a solid level of proficiency.

“That was a great tool for entering the field,” he said. “In Germany, there's a strong demand for social workers and NGO professionals, especially in refugee support. The only real barrier is the language,” Daniel explained. “Once you overcome that hurdle, the sky's the limit.”

Career Transition Journey

Daniel's professional journey began with two years at the German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz), where he supported around 500 refugees in Berlin camps. His responsibilities included helping children enroll in schools, securing residence permits, and managing appointments. He later worked with a U.S.-based organisation that ran exchange programs for American high school students in Europe, managing large grants and ensuring the safety and well-being of 150 participants across cities such as London and Berlin.

Today, Daniel is working for an American-based international organisations in Berlin (IRAP). The organisations provides safety for refugees through legal documentation and legal advocacy, and, in addition, create safe pathways for refugees to migrate. In his role, Daniel oversees office management, finances, payroll, invoices, vendor payments, and overall operations.

Daniel’s Advice to His Younger Self and to Current Students:

When asked what he would tell his younger self at Friedensau, Daniel's response was warm and reassuring:

Trust the Process: “Don't worry so much about 'what next.' Enjoy the journey. Embrace everyday moments such as waking up, heading to the Mensa, working campus jobs like cleaning or maintenance, rushing to submit papers, balancing classes and survival. Take life easy. The worries about visas, jobs, or the future don't add value. Trust the process. The structure of student life, such as early mornings and time management under pressure, builds discipline and resilience that carry into professional settings. In the end, no one will quiz you about Karl Marx or specific theories in daily life. What matters is how the experience shapes you to manage complexity and reality.”

Prioritise the Language: If you plan to stay in Germany for a professional career, learning the language is important.

Network & Explore: Make “crazy experiences,” travel to cities like Hamburg or Berlin, and build a community.

Claim Your Value: Your unique perspective as an international student is something organisations “cannot pay for “; don’t be afraid to use it.