In the Right Place
“Leaving my country was hard, but trying to be myself again here was harder.”
Mohammad shows some of the plans discussed with his colleagues at his company.
The hard beginning
Mohammad used to work as a mechanical engineer in a maintenance factory in Syria before circumstances forced him to leave the country and start his life again in Şanlıurfa, Türkiye, where he could not work in his field because of the language barrier. He could not apply for any job or communicate with employers during interviews, so he had to work as an unskilled worker in a factory. The hours were long and the income was low, but what troubled him most was the job itself. His tasks only involved operating machines with no need for special skills. It did not offer him much space to grow as a professional. The job was killing him from the inside.
I had the skills and experience but could not invest them in that job. I felt I was in the wrong place.
Mohammad, a Syrian mechanical engineer
Mohammad is a mechanical engineer from Syria and a participant in the Wage Subsidy Project.
The beginning of a solution
Mohammad fell into despair, but he was determined to change his reality. He joined several Turkish classes, hoping that improving his language skills would help him get a better job. From there, he heard about the Wage Subsidy Project under BRIDGES. Run by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), the project aims to create wage employment opportunities through helping with the work permit fees for non-Turkish nationals and contributing to the wage payment in the first few months. Excited about this opportunity, Mohammad applied for the project and discussed his experience and skills during an interview with DRC staff. Later, with DRC’s support, he was placed in a small 3D printing company. He felt he was in the right place.
What is good about this project is it allows refugees with no experience in the local market to be integrated into it while using their skills. This would give them a better understanding of the Turkish market and community before they think of opening their own businesses in the future.
Mohammad, a Syrian mechanical engineer
Mohammad works on a design program in his company.
Flourishing in the new job
Determined to prove his competence, he worked on his language skills and learned additional skills such as graphic design. His hard work impressed his employer and made him one of the vital employees in that company, and made it renew his work permit for two more years.
I love this company. We have different backgrounds and skills, and that what makes us a great team, especially that we have mutual respect and understanding.”
Mohammad, a Syrian mechanical engineer
A business that serves communities
3D printing is a rare business in Şanlıurfa. Mohammad feels motivated because he is helping many people in different ways. With his colleagues, they help some car maintenance shops owners by making car parts that are hard to be found in that province for reasonable prices. The company also helps the teachers develop their teaching tools through creating prototypes for their classes. Mohammad smiled when he remembered the time when young school students visited the company and felt excited and amused when they saw 3D printers for the first time in their lives.
I really want to help people through my skills. I sometimes work until 1 am and it does not bother me because this job has become a part of me.
Mohammad, a Syrian mechanical engineer
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The Wage Subsidy Project is part of the BRIDGES Programme and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the German Development Bank (KFW)