As different as the people are, so different are their educational paths. Anhalt University of Applied Sciences supports newly immigrated women and, together with the JobCenter and the city of Dessau-Roßlau, offers a special series of seminars to provide orientation, strength and courage.
These are women who are looking for new career paths in the Anhalt region. "Our educational offers take into account migration backgrounds, promote individual strengths and, above all, help with orientation. Thanks to the cooperation, we have succeeded in reaching a large number of women with this format," reports Amira Messaoudi, Integration Officer at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences. "Many of them only find out through this network that the university offers a support program for refugees from which qualified women can benefit." Qualified women are: Women who have gained their Abitur abroad or have started or completed their studies abroad.
The second series of seminars ended successfully in May 2018. 76 women took part in the course. In a protected environment, they discussed topics such as health, education and politics and learned about established structures. The contributions came from experienced specialist speakers. Students took care of the translation and childcare was also provided. It strengthened women's opportunities to participate in education and society like no other format. Further events are to follow.
Walaa Manla is 19 years old and currently lives in Dessau-Roßlau. She originally comes from Syria. The university asked her about her current experiences and adventures.
What experiences did you gain from the seminar series?
"I got a lot of different impressions. I only moved to Dessau-Roßlau a few months ago. At the so-called "women's seminar", I got to know new people from different countries and contacts in the city. Both were very important for me at the time. I got a lot of guidance there. I was allowed to take part in various activities - that was good for me."
Which topic did you find particularly good?
The topic of women's rights. Later, I talked about it with many female friends who were just sitting at home. I have the feeling that talking about women's rights helped them a lot - and me too, by the way.
Are there any topics that would be close to your heart for the next series of seminars?
I didn't miss any topics in the seminar series. Perhaps the next series of seminars could encourage more discussions in which ideas from different cultures are exchanged. It would also be nice to focus more on "femininity". I can imagine a topic like "Finding time for femininity" would be good.
Has the seminar series changed your image of Germany?
Yes, I think so - I feel stronger! We dealt a lot with rights. I now know who to turn to if someone insults me or is violent towards me. Basically, the seminar gave me self-confidence, which has a positive influence on my image of Germany.
Did the "women's seminar" help you to take the plunge and go to university?
In the last series of seminars, the school system was discussed in great detail. But I already had the desire to study before that. After all, I was already preparing for university at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences. I'm still there. I'm taking the German language test for university entrance (DSH) next semester and will then study here.
Thank you very much for the interview!
