The exchange project, which has been running since 2022, is aimed at trainees from the public utilities, waste disposal and swimming pool companies as well as the Wiesbaden city administration and is coordinated by the Bildungswerk der Hessischen Wirtschaft e. V. (BWHW) in close cooperation with the Office for Social Work. It is part of the city's "IndA - Internationalization of Training" programme and is funded by Erasmus+.

A varied program awaited the young people: company tours, work shadowing and workshops on sustainability and video production - supplemented by exciting leisure activities such as a city tour, climbing forest or a visit to Superfly. A special highlight was the joint engagement day at the Erbenheim youth center, where the participants implemented a sustainability project - in cooperation with the "Wiesbaden Engagiert!" initiative. At the end of the meeting, the young people were given a festive reception in the town hall on April 10. Head of Social Affairs Dr. Patricia Becher presented the certificates and praised the commitment of the participants. "I am really impressed with how much curiosity, initiative and openness the young people from both cities have shown this week. They not only got to know Europe, they actively brought it to life. Such experiences strengthen self-confidence, broaden horizons and show that training can go far beyond one's own company," said Dr. Becher at the farewell ceremony. She also emphasized the social significance of the project, which opens up international perspectives for young people regardless of their origin or income, as well as the committed cooperation of all those involved in Wiesbaden and Klagenfurt. The Wiesbaden trainees had also been actively involved in the run-up to the event, helping to plan program items, developing ideas for excursions and receiving educational support from the BWHW team.

The meeting is a central component of the "Wiesbaden International" strategy, with which the city opens up cross-border learning and development opportunities for young people. At the same time, the project strengthens the town twinning with Klagenfurt, which has existed since 1930. "Through your participation, you have built bridges between our cities and shown that common values are stronger than differences," continued Dr. Becher. International learning experiences are also becoming increasingly important in the training sector. Across Germany, only around seven percent of trainees currently complete part of their training abroad. The European Union recommends a proportion of eight percent by 2025. Wiesbaden is making a targeted contribution to achieving this target with the IndA project and its own Erasmus+ pool project. The stays abroad are legally possible in accordance with Section 2 (3) of the Vocational Training Act and are individually planned, professionally supervised and financially supported by the BWHW. The internship lasts at least two weeks and a preparation period of around six months is recommended. Applications are possible all year round. Destination countries include France, Ireland, Malta, Poland, Spain and Austria; other European partner countries can be requested if interested.

Trainees from the City of Wiesbaden should contact their trainer directly to apply. Anyone who works in another Wiesbaden company can contact the Bildungswerk der Hessischen Wirtschaft. Further information on the project, the requirements and the application process can be found online at www.wiesbaden-international.de/internationale-praktika (opens in a new tab) and www.bwhw.de/fuer-menschen/auszubildende/projekt-inda. (opens in a new tab)

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