Which professions are there? Which one could be the right one for me and which path do I need to take to get there?
When people newly arrive in Germany, many things are unknown to them and different from what they know from their countries of origin. The language, the living conditions - and also the learning and working environment. Just like young people without a refugee background or migration history, they also ask themselves these questions.
On the way to having these questions answered, the offer of career guidance can help. But refugee youths and adults need more than just classic counselling. For this purpose, an advisory structure has been formed to assist them in the areas of learning the language and separate individual support (in official and school matters) for the integration within a profession and thus within society.
The following section is therefore intended to provide an overview of the topic of vocational reorientation for (young) recent immigrants. It links to more in-depth information regarding support options and funding programmes.
You will be able to obtain more information here on the topic of vocational guidance and training for young people at the transition from school to work.
ms.sachsen-anhalt.de/themen/arbeit/berufsorientierung-ausbildung
"Berufsorientierung für Flüchtlinge" (BOF) - Federal Ministry of Education and Research
The programme "Berufsorientierung für Flüchtlinge" (BOF) of the Federal Ministry of Education is specifically aimed at young people with a refugee background to support them in their individual vocational guidance process. The programme is part of the initiative “Wege in Ausbildung für Flüchtlinge” ("Pathways to Training for Refugees"). Here, refugee children and young people attending general education schools take part in the BMBF's regular vocational guidance programme. In the BOF, young refugees are provided with in-depth insights into occupations requiring training in the skilled crafts sector in training workshops and companies. During the programme, which lasts up to 26 weeks, they learn the technical terminology and acquire initial specialist knowledge for the desired occupation requiring training. In addition, they receive individual support where necessary.
"Berufsorientierungsprogramm" (BOP) - Federal Ministry of Education and Research
The programme for the "Promotion of vocational orientation in inter-company and comparable vocational training centres" - the Vocational Guidance Programme for short - was launched in 2008 by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The Vocational Guidance Programme (BOP) is aimed at pupils in the seventh and eighth grades of general education schools. First they explore their strengths in an analysis of their potential, then they test out different occupational fields in the workshop days. While participating in the BOP, many young people develop ideas about what career direction they would like to go in one day - and what would be the right internship for them. Newly immigrated pupils - including refugees - take part in the vocational guidance programme with their class and make up more than five per cent of the participants. By contrast with the "Vocational Guidance for Refugees" (BOF) programme and the projects through the education chains, the BOP is thus not a special project developed specifically for this target group.
www.berufsorientierungsprogramm.de/de/allgemeine-informationen-1694
Vocational Guidance Programmes (BOM) - Federal Employment Agency
Vocational Guidance Programmes according to Section 48 SGB III are an additional offer of the Federal Employment Agency to make it possible to offer more in-depth guidance in addition to the school-based vocational guidance concept and the regular guidance offer of the vocational counsellors at schools and at the Vocational Information Centre (BiZ).
www.der-paritaetische.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Publikationen/doc/JSA_fluechtlinge-Aufl-3_2020
Vocational guidance - Federal Employment Agency
The Employment Agency offers career guidance to young people and adults who are participating or want to participate in working life, and labour market guidance to employers. The type and scope of counselling depends on the counselling needs of the person seeking advice. Accordingly, they have a legal entitlement to the provision of information and advice.
The counselling offer is aimed at pupils of all school types, trainees, students, university graduates and all individuals who are seeking vocational training for the first time or who want to reorient themselves professionally.
www.der-paritaetische.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Publikationen/doc/JSA_fluechtlinge-Aufl-3_2020
REGIO AKTIV Sachsen-Anhalt
Regio Aktiv is a directive of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Equality and is implemented using funding from the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). The programme aims to support the labour market integration of disadvantaged people and to facilitate young people's access to vocational training. In this context, the regional labour market projects should be more strongly oriented towards local needs. In return, the administrative districts and independent cities are provided with more room for manoeuvre. The programme comprises ten funding areas that are implemented with varying focal areas in the regions, including the following:
- Vocational integration of individuals who suffer from special placement barriers "Active integration" (AE)
- Supporting Single Parents and Family Communities in Need in Social and Labour Market Integration "Strengthening Families - Opening Up Perspectives" (FAMICO)
- Ensuring the educational and employability of young people in need of support “STABIL – Selbstfindung – Training – Anleitung – Betreuung – Initiative – Lernen” [Self-discovery - Training - Guidance - Supervision - Initiative - Learning] (STABIL)
- Boosting of school and extracurricular career guidance in the form of accompanied company internships (PRAXIS BO)
- Competence Agencies (KA)
Information on REGIO AKTIV and the other funding areas
REGIO AKTIV is the successor programme to RÜMSA - Regional Transition Management Saxony-Anhalt of the Saxony-Anhalt Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Equality. The REGIO AKTIV website is still under construction. Additional information on RÜMSA
STABIL - Selbstfindung-Training-Anleitung-Betreuung-Initiative-Lernen [Self-Discovery-Training-Guidance-Initiative-Learning]
STABIL is aimed at young people under 25 in need of support who have completed their compulsory education but do not have a vocational qualification, are unemployed and can no longer be reached with the help of the support services offered by the employment agencies or basic benefits agencies. The aim of the funding is to develop the educational skills and employability of the participants so that they can be be integrated in training (also using the Land programme Assisted Training)) or employment or in other suitable further measures.
ms.sachsen-anhalt.de/themen/arbeit/berufsorientierung-ausbildung/stabil
"Assistierte Ausbildung Flexibel" (AsA flex)
In the project Assistierte Ausbildung Flexibel (AsA flex), the discontinued programmes “Zukunftschance assistierte Ausbildung (ZaA)” (Future Chance Assisted Training) and “ausbildungsbegleitende Hilfen (abH) (Training Accompanying Assistance)" were combined and merged together.
Within the framework of the assisted training, young people with difficult starting conditions and high support needs are supported in successfully completing regular training through appropriate preparation and intensive socio-educational guidance. The legal basis for this is Social Code III Section 130.
The support here is holistic and tailored to people's individual needs and is provided by a training provider as a central contact point for both the young person and the company providing the training.
The project is funded by the European Social Fund and the state of Saxony-Anhalt and is implemented in cooperation with the Federal Employment Agency.
Further information on the programme “Assistierte Ausbildung Flexibel (AsA flex)”
Action programme of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce "Arriving in Germany - Together we support integration".
In addition to nationwide offers for vocational guidance for young refugees, there are already regional offers in many municipalities. The German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), for example, has published a paper on its action programme “Ankommen in Deutschland – Gemeinsam unterstützen wir Integration“ (Arriving in Germany - Together we support integration)“. It presents all the projects of the IHK head offices.
“Wir zusammen“ ("We together") – platform for career guidance and preparation
The integration of young refugees within the labour market is not only a benefit for the young refugees, but also for the German economy. A large number of employers have already recognised this. The "Wir zusammen" platform is an example of this. The initiative, which now consists of 230 companies, lists both nationwide and municipal projects offered by companies in Germany for refugees. For example, a four-month advanced vocational preparation course for 20 young refugees at Bayer AG.
KAUSA Saxony-Anhalt Regional Office "ZuSA"
KAUSA supports small and medium-sised enterprises and young people with a migration background who are interested in training on their way to successful dual training. Both young people with a migration or refugee background who already live in Germany and young people from EU and third countries who are interested in training can take advantage of the KAUSA offer. The young people are integrated into dual training through initial and referral counselling. Companies are sensitised to these target groups, made open towards them and advised on the Skilled Immigration Act, among other things.
Information about the KAUSA Saxony-Anhalt Regional Office "ZuSA”