Viktoria (rechts) an ihrem Arbeitsplatz in der Oskar Kämmer Schule in Wernigerode gemeinsam mit Gabriela Nagler, Foto © Landesinitiative Fachkraft im Fokus
I studied German, English, and world literature at the University of Kyiv. I completed my master’s degree in December 2021. Unfortunately, the war in Ukraine broke out in February 2022, which completely changed my life. In May 2022, I fled to Germany and arrived in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, near Lake Müritz.
I had already worked there for two months in 2019 as a waitress through a work-and-travel program to improve my German. Fortunately for me, my former boss reached out when the war broke out and offered his support. My mother and sister decided not to flee with me, but I came with two friends.
My boss helped us with the applications and offered us a job at his hotel. This opportunity allowed me to significantly improve my German skills, as I lost my fear of speaking. However, the position was only seasonal, so I worked at a hotel in Ilsenburg during the winter season. The following summer, I returned to the Müritz and spent the winter of 2023/2024 back in Ilsenburg.
My colleagues from Ilsenburg had arranged a furnished apartment for me, and I worked part-time shifts, so I barely had time to deal with bureaucratic formalities. In January 2024, I finally decided to put my diploma to use. I began researching the recognition of my diploma and tried to have it translated, which proved difficult and resulted in several rejections. Through online research, I came into contact with the WelcomeCenter of the Landesinitiative Fachkraft im Fokus. In February 2024, I scheduled an appointment with regional advisor Gabriela Nagler to get help with the recognition process. My goal was to become a German teacher. Ms. Nagler recommended the Oskar Kämmer School to me at that time. Since there were no open positions there at the time, I continued working at the hotel while simultaneously searching for suitable job openings.
In the summer of 2024, the Oskar Kämmer School in Wernigerode was looking for a teacher for integration courses. My application was successful, and I was offered a permanent position effective August 1, 2024. Now I’m hoping that I’ll be able to apply for my Blue Card in the future.
In the meantime, I’ve moved to Wernigerode with my boyfriend and am very happy with how things have been going here so far. I have great colleagues, wonderful contacts in the school administration, and fantastic students in the German courses.
For a foreigner, bureaucracy is a major challenge. The hurdles are high, and it’s often difficult to find the right contact person at the relevant agency at the right time. The ZAB’s evaluation of the equivalence of my degrees was quick, but the recognition of my diploma is still pending.
Life in Germany isn’t easy, and you have to do a lot yourself to make a living and achieve your goals. Nevertheless, I’m very happy and deeply grateful to everyone who has supported me.
I can definitely see myself building a future in Germany and am looking forward to what lies ahead.
Viktoria
