Arrival in Germany - What’s next? Volunteers help refugees | DW Documentary

Key Concepts

• Vocational training for Rwandan youth in Germany
• Integration of refugees in Germany (Ukrainian and Syrian)
• Volunteerism and community support
• Overcoming bureaucratic hurdles
• Importance of language skills
• Economic development in Rwanda
• Skilled worker shortage in Germany
• Empathy and human connection

Riner Rudolfphie: Vocational Training for Rwandan Youth

• Main Goal: To provide vocational training opportunities for young Rwandans in Germany and support economic development in Rwanda.
• Specifics:
  • Riner Rudolfphie, director and founder of a metalwork company in Germany, recruits trainees from Rwanda.
  • Over 60 Rwandans have been trained in Germany through his program.
  • The program started in 2016 as part of a partnership between the state of Rhineland-Palatinate and Rwanda.
  • Trainees undergo intensive German language courses and preparation before arriving in Germany.
  • Rudolfphie's company, Reema, is located in Rockenhausen.
  • Apprentices stay in Germany for at least two and a half years.
  • Rudolfphie invests 10% of his company's profits into the project.
• Step-by-Step Process:
  1. Recruitment of young Rwandans with good grades.
  2. Intensive German language training.
  3. Travel to Germany and onboarding at Reema Academy.
  4. Vocational training at Reema.
  5. Potential return to Rwanda or continued employment in Germany.
• Rwanda's Perspective:
  • Paul Umakuni, head of a national vocational training institute in Rwanda, collaborates with Rudolfphie.
  • The project aims to create jobs for young people and support development in Rwanda.
  • Rudolfphie helped set up a German school in Kigali to improve language skills.
• German Perspective:
  • Addressing the shortage of skilled workers in Germany is a bonus, but not the primary aim.
  • Other German businessmen are now interested in apprentices from Rwanda.
• Key Quote: Rudolfphie states that helping people and seeing them happy is more important than any money he earns.
• Data: The vocational technical college in Huya has grown from under 800 students to 2,300.
• Long-Term Vision: To create 5,000 jobs in Rwanda through the training program in Germany and the school in Kigali.

Analina Lushak: Integration of Ukrainian Refugees

• Main Goal: To assist Ukrainian refugees in Germany with integration, focusing on overcoming bureaucratic hurdles and providing emotional support.
• Specifics:
  • Analina Lushak, a young marketing expert, came to Germany in 2021.
  • She volunteers for an agency in Trier created in 2001.
  • She helps refugees like Katarina get their diplomas recognized and find jobs.
  • She assists Vlad, a freelance photographer, with German tax forms.
  • She co-founded two German-Ukrainian associations in Trier.
• Challenges Faced by Refugees:
  • Navigating German bureaucracy (forms, applications, official letters).
  • Language barriers.
  • Adapting to a new culture and system.
  • Emotional distress due to the war in Ukraine.
• Analina's Approach:
  • Provides practical assistance with paperwork and translation.
  • Offers emotional support and understanding.
  • Organizes events to celebrate Ukrainian culture and raise awareness.
  • Teaches German to Ukrainian children.
• Time Management: Analina balances her volunteer work with her full-time job by carefully coordinating her activities in the evenings and at weekends.
• Key Quote: Analina emphasizes the importance of helping yourself first before helping others, stating, "If I have no energy, no resources, and only complain about how tough things are, I'm no help to anyone else."
• Political Aspirations: Analina plans to run for a seat on the migrants advisory board.
• Senior Citizen Support: Analina created a weekly gathering for older Ukrainian refugees to combat loneliness.

Bon Fich: Supporting Migrants and Building Community

• Main Goal: To help migrants settle in their new home in Germany, providing practical assistance and fostering a sense of community.
• Specifics:
  • Bon Fich, a former musician, volunteers to help migrants.
  • He assists Manar, a young Syrian woman, with paperwork for the employment agency.
  • He accompanies Kadisha, a young girl from Afghanistan, to hospital appointments.
  • He provides homework help to children from migrant families.
• Challenges Faced by Migrants:
  • Language barriers.
  • Bureaucratic hurdles.
  • Health issues.
  • Lack of parental support for education.
  • Potential deportation.
• Bon's Approach:
  • Provides translation and interpretation services.
  • Offers practical assistance with paperwork and appointments.
  • Provides emotional support and encouragement.
  • Connects migrants with resources and services.
• Integration at Work: Wasim, a former client of Bon, now volunteers to help other migrants.
• Key Quote: Bon emphasizes the importance of empathy in his work, stating that without it, he wouldn't be able to do it so intensely.
• Community Building: Bon's garden party demonstrates how migrants can become integrated into the community.
• Xenophobia: Bon has experienced the fight against xenophobia in his life.

Synthesis/Conclusion

The video highlights the significant contributions of three individuals in Germany who are dedicated to helping others. Riner Rudolfphie focuses on providing vocational training to Rwandan youth, addressing the skilled worker shortage in Germany while simultaneously supporting economic development in Rwanda. Analina Lushak assists Ukrainian refugees with integration, navigating bureaucratic hurdles and providing emotional support during a challenging time. Bon Fich supports migrants from various backgrounds, offering practical assistance and fostering a sense of community. All three stories emphasize the importance of empathy, human connection, and the rewarding nature of volunteerism. The video also touches upon the challenges faced by migrants and the importance of community support in facilitating their integration into German society.