Apprenticeship with perspective - apprentices from Latin America
From El Salvador to Germany - young people from Latin America embarked on this journey to start an apprenticeship in Germany. They left their home country to lay the foundation for a better future. A courageous step that offers many opportunities.
In 2023, a special apprenticeship project was launched to offer young people from El Salvador career prospects in Germany. The project was initiated in co-operation with the Weiden Employment Agency and the International Placement Services. In addition to HORSCH, other companies from the Northern Upper Palatinate region participate in the project.
Perspective in Germany
El Salvador, a small country in Latin America, is characterised by poverty, gang terror and crime. Therefore, many young people see a career opportunity abroad as a chance for a better life. “Germany offers stability, a high quality of life and a well-developed system while El Salvador faces major economic challenges,” Carlos explains. He started his vocational training as a production mechanic at HORSCH in 2023. Carlos was one of three young people who decided to start an apprenticeship in Germany after an intensive application process. The virtual application phase revealed the difficult living conditions of the candidates: some of them attended the interviews in simple shacks.
In August 2023, Carlos, Luis and Kevin set off for Germany. While Kevin started vocational training as a technical product designer, Carlos and Luis started their apprenticeship as production mechanics. All three of them already had previous technical knowledge and a good command of the German language which made it easier for them to get started. They had also taken part in a program in their home country that prepared them for life and culture in Germany. Despite this intensive preparation, the start was rather challenging. Language was one of the biggest obstacles. But in this respect, too, they got support. A colleague who does some volunteer work gave German lessons after work.
Support and integration
An important mentor for the boys is Maria Elena Armas Mondragon who trains as an industrial management assistant at HORSCH and is fluent in Spanish. She also supports the boys with regard to visits to the authorities and organisational matters and is enthusiastic about helping her colleagues. “I make sure that we mainly communicate in German even if it was difficult for the boys at first. If necessary, we switch to Spanish,” she explains. Socialising with the other apprentices is also important - both for the language skills and for integration.
The contact with Maria and her family helped the boys to settle into her new home. “One highlight was when Luis, Kevin and Carlos had dinner with my family and me. As we are also Latinos, they felt a bit closer to home,” Maria says.
As the experiences of the first round were very positive, the project continues. While Luis, Carlos and Kevin started their second year of apprenticeship, three more young people from El Salvador, René, Alan and Richard, came to Germany in 2024. Once again, Maria is fully integrated into the process and supports her new colleagues.
René and Richard started an apprenticeship as production mechanics while Alan decided to train as a warehouse logistics specialist. “It was a difficult decision to leave my life in El Salvador behind, but I knew it was the best decision for my personal and professional development,” Alan says. The other apprentices also share this point of view. They consider an apprenticeship in Germany to be a great opportunity - even if it is a big step.