Upper Austrian Mentoring – Round 2

On November 9th the next round started up – 17 mentoring pairs were introduced to each other in Linz at the kick-off event. This marked the beginning of round two of the Mentoring for Migrants program in Upper Austria, which was initiated by the Austrian Integration Fund, the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber, and the AMS job market service in February 2008. 

The goal: Integration into the labor market

This project brings together business professionals – mentors – and qualified migrants – mentees. Over the next six months they will develop strategies that help the mentees become integrated into the labor market.

Lewandowski: "Social integration happens through work"

"The Austrian Integration Fund has been committed to active integration for decades. Working also leads to social integration. That is why the mentoring project is so important," explained Beatrix Lewandowski of the Austrian Integration Fund.

Gerstorfer: "Important factor in bringing people together"

Birgit Gerstorfer of AMS Upper Austria, who was a mentor last year, agreed: "Mentoring for Migrants is an important part of the process of bringing migrants and the Austrian majority society together."

Siegl: "Enormous benefits for business"

"In addition to helping mentees, the program also has enormous benefits for business," added Herwig Siegl, who is the head of the apprenticeship and master craftsman examinations section (Lehrlings- und Meisterprüfungsstelle) of the Upper Austrian Economic Chamber.

Further information on "Mentoring for Migrants" can be found here.