Grant supports young people in continuing education and training.
Benjamin Markwa is ambitious. Born in Bielefeld, and at just 26 years of age, he has already achieved a great deal in his life - even setbacks fail to throw him off course. Following his upper secondary school-leaving certificate, he started a degree. However, the subject combination of philosophy, physics and economic sciences did not turn out well for him. Markwa abandoned the degree and began an apprenticeship as a bricklayer in summer 2014.
Today, more than three and a half years later, Markwa is a master bricklayer, has completed numerous further training courses and is currently attending a continuing education and training course to become a restorer. This has been made possible as a result of a continuing training grant which financially supports young people in successfully completing the vocational education and training.
"The grant helps with the financing of specialist and cross-specialism continuing education and training," explains Petra Sielemann, from the Chamber of Crafts and Trades for Ostwestfalen-Lippe zu Bielefeld. She has been in charge of the programme since 1991. This was when the project, initiated by the Federal Ministry of Education and Science, was launched. The foundation "Scholarships for the gifted and talented in VET" [Begabtenförderung berufliche Bildung (SBB)] coordinates the programme.
"I received €2,400 for training activities each year - for three years," recalls Markwa. In order to access the funding, he needed to achieve at least 87 points overall in the journeyman examination. He managed to gain 89 points. Inclusion in the support programme may also be possible with one of the top places in a cross-regional vocational performance competition or a recommendation with justification from the employer or the vocational school. This is possible up to the age of 24.
"The grant recipients select advanced training courses themselves," explains Sielemann. She is not sparing in her praise of Benjamin Markwa. "He really has completed a great many courses and was very determined in the process." She added that he was a model of sheer determination.
The skilled tradesman from Bielefeld responds modestly. "I just enjoy the occupation," he said, adding that constantly developing yourself was exciting. In addition to a public speaking seminar, Markwa also attended an intensive blacksmiths course and an individual seminar on tiling. For more than half a year he has also been completing further training as a restorer. There are 2500 of these nationwide.
"This further training has already given me a sort of unique selling point," he explains. It was purely by chance that he started an apprenticeship as a bricklayer following the unsuccessful degree. Markwa was working part time in the warehouse when a friend told him about a nearby building contractor which was looking for people. "I then started a bit later with the specialist company Schomaker in Bielefeld". "From then on, I turned up to work each morning with a smile on my face," he continued.
Markwa now works for Lagerquist construction in Bielefeld. He was initially appointed as a journeyman. I would like to gain more experience and develop myself further," explains Markwa when asked about a short term goals. In the long term, he would like to run his own company and at some point maybe pass the master craftsman examination in tiling: "For my ego," he says, laughing, "I have certain expectations in terms of my career. For me, standing still is a backward step."