How can refugees and other migrants in Germany are integrated linguistically and professionally? A visit to the Ruhr area, where four cities and a number of organisations operate a model project.
“Quaz.ruhr” is written in large letters on the facade of the former training workshop of the car manufacturer Opel in Bochum district of Laer. Quaz stands for qualification and training center for Immigrants.
“It is the Germany, is the largest organization that takes care of the people that come to us, to be here integrated,” says Eric Weik, the chief Executive of the chamber of Commerce and industry (IHK) in the Central Ruhr area.
Winner of the Quaz the Ruhr area cities of Bochum, Hattingen, Herne and Witten, in addition, the chamber of Commerce and industry and employers ‘ associations, the craft, the Ruhr-University of Bochum, trade unions and churches.
“And all the churches, including the faith community of the Muslims”, emphasizes Weik. He has brought to this Alliance and is also the Chairman of the Quaz-Association.
From his work in the chamber of Commerce and industry Weik know that there are also economic reasons for Integration. “If we do not manage the step of the Integration, then the whole society has a Problem. Also, the economy.”
Future nurses in the classroom in the Quaz
Participants from 45 Nations
For immigrants, it is particularly important to learn English, says Weik. “Without language there is in almost all Professions.” In the case of Quaz 20 hours of English teaching are therefore per week on the program.
“Because it’s General and occupation-related language instruction,” says Peter Lübbert, the head of the Quaz. Also in the case of vocational qualifications in the workshops, only English would be spoken.
Since the Start of Quaz in September 2017 456 refugees, and have wandered from 45 Nations, the qualification of the measures taken. About 180 of them later found in a training or employment relationship.
“The Federal Agency says that this is a major success of the project,” says Quaz-Chairman Eric Weik.
Training opportunities there are for activities in the areas of electrical, metal, warehouse and logistics, Hotel and catering, nursing, home Economics, as well as a painter and varnisher.
Earlier training workshop of Opel, now a training centre for migrants
It is not always easy to convey to the participants that their home qualifications are not recognised in Germany, says Peter Lübbert. In particular, participants with an academic degree had to accept, “to work here in a low-skilled employment”.
Good Opportunities
The 50-year-old Nazik Meri, who has taught in Syria as a teacher of biology and chemistry, know very well that you have to improve your knowledge of German. But she is soon to complete an internship at the Ruhr-University Bochum and is confident, then as an assistant teacher in a Real or complete school work.
Quaz is the Board for you to jump. As for the 33-year-old Godfrey Bright, the Designer was in Nigeria as a computer graphics and quickly the Situation on the German labour market has accepted. After working in care for the elderly and as a cemetery garden helper, he has detected at Quaz his skills for the logistics industry. A work of Godfrey Bright has found a place already and just waiting for the work permit.
Godfrey Bright from Nigeria, specialized in logistics
Currently, the Quaz is in charge of about 290 women and men, the hope of a career in Germany. The course lasts for six months, after companies from diverse industries, in Quaz – Director Peter Lübbert your odds are bad-now, after graduates.
Typical For The Ruhr Area?
Quaz will initially run until 2020, a total of twelve million euros for the project from different pots. Requests for extension of the project are in preparation.
The Ruhr area has always been a melting pot for workers from many countries – in this sense, the Quaz is also for continuity.
In addition, there was the former training workshop Opel the ideal conditions for a training centre, says Eric Weik from the Association. Nevertheless, the Quaz is no good also as a blueprint for other regions in Germany, he says. The have shown number of requests from other Federal States.