Language, labor market

“We demand something, this is not a petting course!”

Information presentations on the college are currently underway. The courses with 26 hours per week start at the end of September(Bild: Imre Antal)

After good experiences with training colleges for young refugees, older refugees in Vienna now also have to go to school to learn the language, find their way in society and take steps into the world of work in blocks - if the city has its way, all of them will at some point.

Since February, young refugees in Vienna have been sent to "youth colleges" run by the AMS, where they acquire language and professional skills in blocks; now it's the adults' turn: the "College 25+", which aims to prepare older refugees for the job market, will start on September 30. All 1008 available places are expected to be full from January.

"Integration doesn't happen by itself"
The program lasts around nine months with 26 hours per week: 16 of these are for education, primarily in terms of language, 5 for advice and orientation and 5 for preparation for the job market. The parts are supervised by the adult education centers (education), Caritas (counselling) and Volkshilfe (work). The costs of 9.7 million euros per year are covered 60 percent by the city and 40 percent by the European Social Fund. Participants receive a daily course fee of 26.69 euros from the AMS - and receive this amount less in minimum benefits.

Alexander Bodmann (Caritas Vienna), Alsergrund head Saya Ahmad, City Councillor for Social Affairs Peter Hacker, Tanja Wehsely (Volkshilfe) and Herbert Schweiger (Volkshochschulen)(Bild: Imre Antal)

The offer is intended for recognized refugees, but also for those entitled to subsidiary protection and a tenth for asylum seekers - according to City Councillor for Social Affairs Peter Hacker, because "integration cannot begin soon enough" and Vienna wants to counter the "ban on learning and working" under immigration law: "Integration does not happen by itself. Anyone who says otherwise has no idea."

We have done our duty. Why? Because it's the right thing to do.

Bezirksvorsteherin Saya Ahmad über ihre Unterstützung für das College-Projekt

Bild: Imre Antal

The courses take place in the former WU building on Alsergrund. District manager Saya Ahmad is delighted about this, because: "Refugees want to give something back to society. You just have to give them the chance to do so."

"Only a few want to roll around without a purpose"
Caritas Vienna Director Alexander Bodmann finds the college "unique to date", as it is also about "arriving in society, but ultimately entering the job market". Vienna's Volkshilfe Managing Director Tanja Wehsely also emphasizes that the college is "not a pampering course, we demand something!" In any case, "few people, regardless of their nationality, enjoy rolling around in life without a purpose."

At least at the youth college, 70 percent of candidates - currently mainly young Syrian men - immediately seize the opportunity for a training place. Capacity here is currently being expanded to around 4,000 places. Hacker also envisages 2,000 to 4,000 places for the adult college in the end. According to him, this would cover the demand and the current offer could be turned into a commitment.