Zainab Al-Saffar
I was also afraid (that people wouldn't understand me) at the beginning at TEAG, but I can just speak freely here and the others understand me. That was a great experience.
Gera und Erfurt
Interview with Zainab Al-Saffar
Zainab Al-Saffar gets off to a good start in Germany with plenty of support
Zainab Al-Saffar came to Gera, where her father has lived since 2015, via the family reunification programme in 2018. The first few days were very nice and exciting for her in the new country, finally back together with her whole family. The first few months then dragged on. She was mainly at home and had to take care of registrations and official matters.
Mrs Al-Saffar had already attended school for 12 years in Iraq, but had not yet graduated. In Germany, she was recognised as having a secondary school leaving certificate. Before she could return to school at a vocational grammar school, she had just one month to complete her first German course. In her first year at the vocational grammar school, she still used a lot of English. "It was very difficult and I often thought that I wouldn't manage it. But I had a head teacher who was also my chemistry teacher, who always helped me and encouraged me. Then I learnt German step by step," says the young Iraqi.
After school, the employment agency then sent her to the Chamber of Industry and Commerce so that Zainab Al-Saffar could get support with the FIF project. "That's where I met Mrs Raschke and she wrote lots of applications for the apprenticeship with me and always supported me when I had problems - especially with the language. That was a great help. And when Mr Youssef came along, it became even easier because he also speaks Arabic," says the now 23-year-old.
During job application coaching, they also practised job interviews, in German of course.
Despite very good maths and technical skills, finding an apprenticeship is difficult
Zainab Al-Saffar knew exactly where she wanted to go on her professional journey. "My uncle was an electrical engineer, I wanted to do that too. Then I applied to become an electronics technician. At first, I didn't get any replies to my applications, but later I got more positive responses, one from TEAG."
However, when they first met and after the aptitude test, it turned out that it wasn't going to be an apprenticeship as an electronics technician. But TEAG didn't want to let the warm and intelligent young woman go and offered her an apprenticeship as an IT specialist.
"I was very scared at the beginning that I wouldn't manage the apprenticeship here. But I got a lot of support from Daniel Papst and Johannes Trümper. And I was always worried that people wouldn't understand me because my German wasn't that good. I was also afraid of that at the beginning at TEAG, but I can just speak freely here and the others understand me. That was a great experience."
The vocational school with its many new subjects and technical terms is still a challenge for Zainab Al-Saffar. "Not only do I have to concentrate hard at school, but I also repeat everything again at home in the afternoons." Thanks to her willpower, she is making good progress.
Zainab Al-Saffar moved to Erfurt for her training. "I think it's easier to make friends in Erfurt than in Gera - there are more young people here." Zainab Al-Saffar still likes to spend the weekends in Gera with her family. "They are my biggest support. If I have a problem, I go to my family first, they are always by my side and help me. That's why I feel at home in Thuringia - because my family is here."
The young woman would also like to make more friends, but training is her top priority first. "I want to manage that and then not stay in one place, but keep moving upwards with my career."
(June 2023)
Interview with the LAT project FIF - Promotion of the professional integration of foreign skilled workers and labour (IHK Gera)
Long application phase despite excellent prerequisites
"Mrs Al-Saffar joined the FIF project in June 2021. At the time, I was still completing a dual study programme and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Eastern Thuringia in Gera was my practice partner. My colleague Ms Raschke was the project manager at the time and supported Ms Saffar in her first steps, which is how I got to know the case," recalls Yousef Yousef, who now heads the FIF LAT project in Gera himself.
Mr Yousef was particularly impressed by the excellent knowledge of science and technology that Mrs Al-Saffar brought with her from her school days in Iraq. "She knew right from the start where she wanted to go. She is very intelligent and knows what she wants. She also told me about her own physics projects from school and that was really fascinating."
Zainab Al-Saffar wanted to find an apprenticeship in IT, mechatronics or electronics. She favoured becoming an IT specialist, but she could also imagine training in mechatronics or electronics. Ms Raschke and Mr Yousef primarily supported Ms Al-Saffar in writing applications and finding suitable apprenticeships. "Although she had very good skills, she wasn't even invited to a job interview in the first five months. She searched in Gera, Jena, Altenburg and the entire region without success. That was really frustrating."
Mr Yousef is all the more pleased that, after a long search, Ms Al-Saffar then found a training position for her dream job in a prestigious company. Her training manager and colleagues at TEAG Thüringer Energie AG are very nice and she receives a lot of support there.
Companies need to improve access for migrants
Examples like Zainab Al-Saffar's show how difficult it is for migrants to gain a foothold in the labour market, even if they have good qualifications. "I suspect that if she had sent her application documents to the companies without her name and picture, she would have received more acceptances." The scepticism towards cultural differences and the excessive expectation of prior knowledge, particularly with regard to the language skills of the participants, are a major challenge in integration work. It would therefore be good if companies established structures that make it easier to arrive at the workplace, e.g. by providing support in dealing with the authorities and finding accommodation, as well as targeted and active communication about existing reservations and cultural differences.
But Mr Yousef also finds it encouraging that Mrs Al-Saffar's search was successful in the end. This gives hope for the future. "I am very happy that Ms Al-Saffar is happy with her training and has found a great working environment with nice colleagues at TEAG. I wish her every success for her career and her future path."
(June 2023)
Interview with Johannes Trümper, Head of the TEAG Academy and Daniel Papst, Project Manager in the Data Centre of TEAG grid subsidiary TEN Thüringer Energienetze GmbH & Co. KG
Zainab Al-Saffar is an enrichment for TEAG as an apprentice
TEAG, Thuringia's largest energy company, trains up to 50 people a year at various locations in seven different professions. Zainab Al-Saffar had originally applied for an apprenticeship as an electronics technician for industrial engineering. After a test by the company doctor did not confirm her suitability for this profession, she was offered an alternative apprenticeship as an IT specialist.
"Zainab made such a positive impression on us that we couldn't just let her go," reports Johannes Trümper. She was then very happy with the offer, as it was actually her first career choice. "Zainab's friendly and open-minded nature makes her an absolute asset. She is a person who opens hearts. At our trainee summer party, she was the only one who brought something for everyone. I thought that was great," says Johannes Trümper.
In addition to many training courses and vocational school, Zainab Al-Saffar is always very interested in practical experience in the specialist area. "She takes a very positive approach to things and is always willing to learn new things. No matter what we do, she is always very committed," says Daniel Papst. "In addition to the office world and programming, it's also part of our job to go out regularly to realise technical things outside. Zainab is often with us when we're out and about. She is always very interested and wants to see how things work on site," reports Daniel Papst. Zainab Al-Saffar has also taken part in large MeetUp events and helped with the preparations.
There are many hurdles for foreign skilled workers to overcome in Germany
The LAT project FIF and TEAG had not worked together before, but it was known that the IHK offered various projects for the integration of refugees into the labour market. "We at TEAG are also actively involved in giving migrants and refugees prospects. However, it is a requirement in our technical and specialised area that sufficient language skills must be available. This is the only way to successfully complete an apprenticeship," explains Johannes Trümper. TEAG already has experience in hiring people with a migration background and a history of flight. Currently, for example, a trainee from Syria has successfully completed his training and is now working as an IT specialist at the company.
Johannes Trümper reports that trainees and employees from abroad are also supported from the outset in dealing with administrative challenges. This involves a great deal of effort, especially for foreign skilled workers who are not yet living in Germany. "It starts with the tax identification number and pension insurance number; then you need a bank account; you also have to register with the health insurance company and find a flat. It's not easy, but we've always managed it so far." It was easier for Zainab Al-Saffar as she already had a residence permit. There were no difficulties with the authorities.
Johannes Trümper has two wishes for Zainab Al-Saffar for the future: "My greatest wish is that Zainab continues to feel at home at TEAG and in Thuringia. And, of course, that she successfully completes her training with us!"
(June 2023)
