Careworkers for persons with disabilities

The “Care International” program brings trainee careworkers from Turkey to Munich to assist persons with disabilities.

Gruppenfoto der Programmteilnehmer*innen von Care International 23-24

One-year path to employment as careworker in Munich

One year ago they came to Munich as part of the “Care International” program. They are now employed as careworkers and see their future careers in Germany. The journey involved one year of voluntary work comprising various professional modules, as well as German classes twice a week that ended with a B2-level certificate.

Cross-organizational teamwork

Care International is a project run by the Munich Employment and Qualification Program (MBQ) at the Department of Labor and Economic Development. As a sub-project of the Trägerverbund Personalsituation Behindertenhilfe – an association of project sponsors focused on acquiring careworkers for persons with disabilities – a project leader and two employees from the project sponsor EUCON e.V. look after the needs of the participants and the institutions for persons with disabilities.

The City of Munich’s Department of Labor and Economic Development coordinates issues relating to acquiring employees. Colleagues in charge of the transition from vocational training to professional work support the project. They help smooth the process of applying for work permits and residence permits.

Care International is funded by the MBQ using City of Munich funds, with additional funding from the EU.

"I became aware of the Care International project one year ago and came to Germany. I have gained a lot of experience through the project and I am now working as a careworker in Munich. I feel very lucky and privileged to be part of this project."

Muhammed Furkan Hanay, foreign careworker

That the association of project sponsors can make things happen is clear to see from the success of the first year.

Graduates who had already obtained a university qualification as careworkers in Turkey were directly approached as part of a cooperation with Atatürk University. Interested persons had the chance to apply.

There are often more interested candidates than places available, according to one participant from Erzurum University. However, anyone who knows about the staffing shortage in the German healthcare system is aware that there is great demand for new employees.

Association of project sponsors

The association of project sponsors – Trägerverbund Personalsituation Behindertenhilfe – aims to acquire new careworkers for persons with disabilities and to develop and implement ideas for improving the staffing situation in residential institutions for such persons in Munich. To this end, we work with various organizations at the municipal level.
The following organizations are involved in the Trägerverbund Personalsituation Behindertenhilfe:
Munich Employment and Qualification Program (MBQ) – Department of Labor and Economic Development, City of Munich
Heimaufsicht – Department of Public Order, City of Munich
Augustinum
Caritasverband für München und Freising
Die Brücke gGmbH
Helfende Hände gGmbH
Lebenshilfe München e.V.
Monsignore-Bleyer-Haus
Regens-Wagner-Stiftung München
Stiftung ICP München
Stiftung Pfennigparade
Südbayerische Wohn- und Werkstätten für Blinde und Sehbehinderte gGmbH

How Care International works

Following successful application, graduates start their involvement with Care International. The young employees obtain support with language learning and bureaucracy. The program thus leads participants to a direct professional qualification while simultaneously assisting with other issues.

After an initial online language course in their home country, Care International ensures that participants are placed in well-coordinated institutions for voluntary work, receive the documents needed to enter Germany, and attend the necessary language courses at the Munich adult education center (Volkshochshule) when they arrive in the city.

In this way, the participants also get to know one another and share their experiences.

In addition, all the institutions in Munich that benefit from the program provide “their” volunteers with free accommodation, and the participants also receive remuneration for voluntary workers to meet living costs.

"I am happy to have gained my initial experience as part of the Care International project. The feeling of being valued motivates me even more to continue my career. I’m proud to be part of Care International."

Didem Yilmaz, careworker from Turkey

The result – a plannable and reliable timeframe to achieve the professional qualification needed in Germany – is key for both participants and employers and thus central to the program’s success. The results after the first year: 18 out of 21 participants achieved employment as a careworker in Munich. Two of them work as care assistants awaiting full recognition (the official German term: Pflegekraft in Anerkennung), and as soon as they pass their B2 language test they will also obtain recognition as careworkers.

Flexible work experience

In some cases the program can also offer “temporary work experience abroad”. For example, two participants returned to Turkey because they found employment there in the state healthcare system. But “Care International” also provided them with valuable new professional and personal experience.

Meanwhile, the other participants seem to be very happy with their employers and their life in Munich. Language training in their home country has already begun for the next group of participants. The project continues.

Contact

Team Skilled Labor

Are you interested in Care International and want more information? Here you can find our contact details at munich business.