(Project on Vocational Training for Refugee Women)

This project works with women applying for asylum status and refugee women. The participants do not need to fulfil, in comparison to other training courses any requirements in relation to the authorities' regulations, such as unemployment status or a particular level of training or education. The objective is to help refugee women move away from domestic work and unemployment. innovative Elements - providing vocational training for asylum-seeking and refugee women - equipping women with skills and qualifications to find employment with good working conditions - giving advice and help to access social services, including housing - promoting the participation of asylum-seeking and refugee women as citizens in German society Background The vocational training for refugee women project was established in Berlin in 1990.

The initiators of the project realised that the lack of training and employment opportunities for refugee women were key obstacles that needed to be urgently addressed. Language courses (such as these offered by the Goethe Institute and other language schools) are aimed only at women from countries that formerly provided labour to Germany (Kurdistan, Turkey, Spain, Tunisia, Vietnam, etc.).

Refugee women generally do not meet the criteria for entry into programmes which lead to formal qualifications. This project aims to bridge this gap and give refugee women the opportunity to train and prepare themselves for the job market. The focus of the project in the early years was on traditional areas such as home economics, housekeeping and childcare. However, as of 1994, the content of the courses changed and became more tailored to the existing labour market priorities and began to include new areas such as medical topics. Job opportunities for migrant women appear to be better in the medical field. Firstly, there is an increased demand for Migrant workers in this area, because an increasing number of migrants want to or must remain in Germany after retirement. Caregivers are needed for the elderly who can understand the particular situation of this group. Secondly, these are useful skills which the women will be able to use if someday they return to their country of origin.

Refugee women often suffer from the consequences of their flight from their home countries. They come to Germany under different circumstances than other migrant women. Some women did not leave their homes willingly and have little desire to be In Germany. They must find their way in an environment that they have been thrust into. Furthermore, same women have experienced war, torture family violence, and require psychological help. Existing services such as the Zentrum für Folteropfer (Centre for Torture Victims) cannot cope. Women learn about the course through word of mouth, from leaflets distributed in key places and from former participants. The staffing situation and limited finances makes it difficult to conduct a wide-ranging advertising campaign. Barriers Identified Domestic violence: Women's right of residence is generally connected to their husbands'. If a women leaves her husband she could lose her right of residence. Accommodation in refugee homes: This is highly problematic with too many people in too small a space with shared bathrooms and cooking facilities. Lack of access to labour market: Refugee women face many obstacles finding jobs due to their backgrounds and uncertain situation, and lack of recognised qualifications. Consequences of torture: As same of the women have either witnessed or themselves been subject to torture they require specialist intervention which is not always available due to lack of resources.

Actions Undertaken The project offers a ten-month course of 30 hours per week for about 20 women with a basic knowledge of German. Women apply for the course with only a brief CV, participation is free of charge, and childcare is provided during classes. The training course uses group instruction and face-to-face work, role-playing, theatre, etc. The Teachers have developed the curriculum themselves. As the course is directed to women of different origins and levels of education, the content is tailored according to need. Legal aid: A lawyer is available two hours a week. She answers legal questions in connection with the course, helps women with housing problems and questions concerning residence status. The overall course content includes the following: - Finding and renovating an apartment, dealing with accommodation contracts, housing benefit using the telephone, first aid, how to deal with social welfare agencies, etc. - German language, always in connection with practical topics - Recent German history, (a visit to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp is included to show the trainees that repressive regimes can be changed). - Exploration games to help the women become more familiar with the City. The emphasis is coping and finding one's way around, for example, how to use the library etc. - Getting to know one's body through massage and sport, learning to listen to it and develop positive attitude towards it. - A course on health covering practical tasks such as urine testing theoretical knowledge around anatomy, enhanced by fun activities such as building a model of the vagina.

The course ja concluded by a group visit to the Berlin Feminist Health Centre. - Job search training including how to write a CV, interview skills etc. - Typing, word processing and office communications such as computer. All of these include an input on child-rearing, promotion of confidence relation to contact with administration, information on residence status and coping with everyday life. Practical training (three weeks): At the end of the course, each woman is placed in a Hospitaly Laborat in Berlin. The social worker looks for placements corresponding to participants' interests. The experience is generally very good, with 80% of the, Hospitaly Laborats offening placements, reacting positively. The participants often have an opportunity to extend their placement or to undergo training in the company. A meeting between interested firmsm and the participants is held before the placement begins to discuss the expectations of both parties.

Resources The project has 6 paid workers. These include: two teachers, one full-time social worker; one paid childcare worker; one legal advisor and one cleaner, paid on an hourly basis. The project gets 55% of its funding from the ,,Senat für Arbeit und Frauen (Senate of Employment and Women of the Berlin state) and 45% from European Commission's NOW (New Opportunities for Women) programme ( salary is paid at German BAT IVb or V level). Financing from the Commission currently ensures the continuation of the project. The project generally suffers from a shortage of funding, especially to buy materials needed for the courses. An annual report, complete with statistics, is prepared for the donors. Impact This project provides a comprehensive range of services to asylum-seeking and refugee women takes account of the harrowing experiences of women before they arrive in Germany.

The project's membership of various networks related to migrant women and vocational training gives its work a dynamic approach, which in turn provides for a more finely tuned service delivery. For example, the project is member of a network which lobbys for migrant women's projects, works to promote qualifications for migrant women and for the elimination of obstacles to access training courses and the job market. The network also gives advice on finding sponsorship. The project also attempts to empower women by promoting an active awareness of how structures work in German society. It is collaborating with others on a handbook for migrant women called Where do I find what?. Comments Given the current lack of support and sympathy from the public and political decision makers for refugees and asylum-seekers, it was seen as important to give visibility to a project working with this group in order to give visibility and raising awareness on their daily difficulties.

E-Mail :mailto:KHilfsvere@aol.com

Contact: Kurdistan Kultur- und Hilfsverein e.V (KOMKAR-Berlin) . Paul-Lincke-Ufer 44a 10999 Berlin /Germany

Tel.: + 49 30 618 92 07

 

 

 

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