Einstieg zum Aufstieg celebrates its anniversary: the non-profit VBKI project was launched exactly 5 years ago. The goal of the 2019 initiators around Udo Marin, Gerhard Niehaus and Berliner Sparkasse: to place people with refugee experience in the Berlin labor market. Since then, the project team, which consists of two permanent employees, has succeeded in placing around 300 people in jobs, internships, training and further education – from cleaners to executive assistants. In the current year alone, around 100 people have been placed in jobs – with around 500 applications supported by “Einstieg zum Aufstieg” 2024 in total.
“Berlin is a safe haven for hundreds of thousands of people who have fled war or persecution. We want to support these long-suffering people in leading a self-determined life. In our view, access to work is a key prerequisite. We are proud and happy that, despite bureaucratic hurdles, language barriers and cultural differences, we have managed to successfully integrate numerous people with refugee experience into the Berlin labor market,” said VBKI Managing Director Ute Weiland at the ceremony.
On November 20, we celebrated the fifth anniversary of our project with a special event. The varied program included inspiring keynote speeches and exciting panel discussions that offered valuable insights into current topics. And of course the opportunity for networking, which many participants made intensive use of to make new contacts and deepen existing relationships.
Among our guests were representatives from politics, business and social initiatives, who underlined the importance of our project with their presence. We were very pleased that we were able to bring all the guests together in one place, as our project has always been committed to Partnership and exchange – to networking instead of a competitive paradigm. Our results show that this approach works.
Our special thanks go to all the speakers who enriched our program with their contributions:
- Micha Klapp – State Secretary for Labor and Equality
- Katarina Niewiedzial – Representative for Participation, Integration and Migration
- Gerhard Niehaus – Founders start to rise
- Marc Müller – VBKI Presidium
- Monika Wilczek – Project Manager Training, Human Resources and Organization, Charité Facility Management
- Prof. Dr. Gabriele Schlimper – Managing Director, Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband
- Judith Bossert – Network Coordination, Women for Work
- Henrike Schlottmann – Managing Director, Project Together
- Dr. Stefanie Hansen-Heidelk – Head of Human Resources & Health, Berliner Stadtreinigung
- Ben Visser – Founder & CEO allygatr
- Nancy Plaßmann – Board Member, Berlin Sparkasse
- André Beutler – Operations Manager, LTG Seelow
- Ralf Mathiesen – Managing Partner, GFPG – Gesellschaft für Personalgewinnung mbH
To the picture gallery of the event: Please click here>
