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STORY: GERMANY / VOLKSWAGEN REFUGEES TRAINING
TRT: 3:33
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT UNHCR ON SCREEN
LANGUAGE: GERMAN /NATS
DATELINE: 18-19 OCTOBER 2019, BAUNATAL / WOLFSBURG, GERMANY
18 OCTOBER 2019, BAUNATAL, GERMANY
1. Various shots, Ekhlas working with a forklift
2. SOUNDBITE (German) Mastura Ekhlas, Afghan refugee:
"Working here at VW in the first year wasn’t so easy. I worked like a man all year, really hard."
3. Wide shot, trainees in class
4. Med shot, Mastura in class
5. Med shot, trainer
6. Close up, Mastura opening a manual
7. Close up, Mastura
8. Med shot, trainer with trainees
19 OCTOBER 2019, WOLFSBURG, GERMANY
9. SOUNDBITE (German) Ariane Kilian, Head, Refugee Aid, Volkswagen Group:
"Volkswagen has been involved with helping refugees since 2015. At the very beginning it was more emergency aid. We had many refugees around our sites, and we had trainees and volunteers who were committed to helping these people. We made a long-term commitment, and today the focus is on education and dialogue, because we want to help refugees access traineeships or find jobs in Germany."
18 OCTOBER 2019, BAUNATAL, GERMANY
10. Med shot, Al Jaser walking to his workstation
11. Various shots, Al Jaser putting labels on car parts
12. SOUNDBITE (German) Mohammad Al Jaser, Syrian refugee:
"This is also important for my family. They are proud of me. I’m working not only for myself, but also for my family, my parents and my child."
13. Various shots, a refugee trainee working in the logistics centre
14. SOUNDBITE (German) Dr. Stefan Kreher, Human Resources Director, VW Baunatal:
"We looked at what could be a successful project here in the region and very quickly came up with the subject of logistics. Because that is a key economic factor here in our region.”
15. Wide shot, warehouse
16. Close up, worker checking barcode
17. SOUNDBITE (German) Dr. Stefan Kreher, Human Resources Director, VW Baunatal:
"I think having a job plays a very important role in successful integration. That can mean professional work, but even more important is that it gives people prospects.”
18. Various shots, Mastura working together with her trainer
19. SOUNDBITE (German) Mastura Ekhlas, Afghan refugee:
"Since I've been in Germany, I’ve always thought positively. In the beginning we had a lot of difficulties. And besides that, I have to juggle my private life, that is not easy.”
20. Zoom out, three refugee trainees qwalking with Volkswagen building in back
Afghan refugee and a mother of three Mastura Ekhlas, has landed a prestigious traineeship with German carmaker Volkswagen thanks to a qualification programmes offered by a network of German companies specially tailored for refugees.
By adding language learning and extra tuition to traditional job opportunities, employers helped newcomers adapt to the new challenges of a different working culture.
At the Volkswagen warehouse in Baunatal in central Germany, refugees are taking part in two-year internship and training programme to equip them to enter the German workforce
Launched in 2017, the program is based in the carmaker’s plant in central Germany and aims to meet regional demand for skilled workers in the logistics industry. The scheme has a proven track record. Most graduates find full-time work, either with VW or with logistics operators elsewhere in the region.
Volkswagen has been helping refugees since the large wave of new arrivals in 2015. Initially focusing on emergency aid, the company’s response gradually evolved into a commitment to provide refugees with long-term employment prospects.
Despite the hard work, Afghan refugee Mastura and fellow trainee Mohammad, from Syria, have embraced the challenge of retraining in a new field, picking up skills that are in demand in the region where they now live. Now, they and their fellow trainees stand a good chance of landing a job for life. Both are looking forward to providing for themselves and their families and making a meaningful contribution to society.
SCRIPT:
Mastura is not afraid of a challenge
She thrives on learning new skills
The mother of three is now the main breadwinner of her family
CLIP: Mastura Ekhlas, Afghan refugee trainee (woman, German): "Working here at VW in the first year wasn’t so easy. I worked like a man all year, really hard."
At this Volkswagen warehouse in central Germany, refugees are taking part in 2-year internship and training programme to equip them to enter the German workforce
CLIP: Ariane Kilian, Head, Refugee Aid, Volkswagen Group (woman, German): "Volkswagen has been involved with helping refugees since 2015. At the very beginning it was more emergency aid. We had many refugees around our sites, and we had trainees and volunteers who were committed to helping these people. We made a long-term commitment, and today the focus is on education and dialogue, because we want to help refugees access traineeships or find jobs in Germany."
Mohammad, from Syria, is now in his second year here
He’s hoping to pass his exams, so he can become a full-time employee
CLIP: Mohammad Al Jaser, Syrian refugee trainee (man, German): "This is also important for my family. They are proud of me. I’m working not only for myself, but also for my family, my parents and my child."
Since its launch, the qualification programme has a proven track record in training and providing jobs for refugees whilst meeting the demand for skilled labour in the region
CLIP: Dr. Stefan Kreher, Human Resources Director, VW Baunatal (man, German): "We looked at what could be a successful project here in the region and very quickly came up with the subject of logistics. Because that is a key economic factor here in our region.”
CLIP: Dr. Stefan Kreher, Human Resources Director, VW Baunatal (man, German):
"I think having a job plays a very important role in successful integration. That can mean professional work, but even more important is that it gives people prospects.”
Competition for the programme is fierce
Volkswagen is one of Germany’s most prestigious carmakers
CLIP: Mastura Ekhlas, Afghan refugee trainee (woman, German): "Since I've been in Germany, I’ve always thought positively. In the beginning we had a lot of difficulties. And besides that, I have to juggle my private life, that is not easy.
I fought really hard to get this position."
This programme steers refugees towards full-time employment, and a better future
