‘You only get a chance like this once in a lifetime,’ admits Malek Nasrallah. The Jordanian has been training as a plant mechanic since the beginning of August and is one of the first of five young Jordanians to start as part of the project Partnerships for development-oriented training and labour migration run by sequa, GIZ, the ZDH and three skilled crafts organisations such as the Steinfurt Warendorf District Skilled Crafts Association.
‘It is a courageous step that they have taken,’ said Schulze at a meeting with Jordanian trainees, recognising the young people's courage in taking the step to Germany and starting a skilled trades apprenticeship. The Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development took the time to talk to the young people about their start in Germany and the opportunities and challenges they face. ‘Her visit is a sign of appreciation for our international commitment and for her participation in this pilot project,’ said District Master Craftsman Lohmann, thanking the Minister for her interest.
‘The most difficult thing is the language,’ says Laith Salameh Okour, who has started an apprenticeship as a motor vehicle mechatronics technician.Although he and the other trainees have learnt German to B1 level at the Goethe Institute in Amman, there is a lack of technical terms in everyday working life. It quickly becomes clear during the meeting with Minister Schulze that the young Jordanians have a really good command of the German language. Nevertheless, everyone is certain that full integration will still be a long process. There are many challenges overall. ‘For example, finding affordable housing for the trainees is not easy,’ says Frank Tischner, Managing Director of the Steinfurt Warendorf District Trades Association.
