{"id":80691,"date":"2025-12-13T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/with-skills-and-determination-guatemalans-embark-on-life-changing-journey-to-germany\/"},"modified":"2025-12-13T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T12:00:00","slug":"with-skills-and-determination-guatemalans-embark-on-life-changing-journey-to-germany","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/?p=80691","title":{"rendered":"With skills and determination, Guatemalans embark on life-changing journey to Germany"},"content":{"rendered":"


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A few held back tears, others offer nervous smiles, each aware that the moment marks the beginning of a life-changing journey far from home.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never left Guatemala City, let alone my country,\u201d said Billy, one of the participants. \u201cMy family is very excited because I\u2019ll be the first one among us to travel abroad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Safe pathway<\/h2>\n

Their three-month opportunity is part of a pilot project designed to create safe and regular labour migration pathways, supported by the Guatemalan Government, the Embassy of Germany in Guatemala, the Technical Training and Productivity Institute, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).<\/p>\n

The journey is guided by a sense of purpose shaped by resilience, determination, and years of effort. In Germany, that purpose will translate into skills, technical knowledge, and a commitment to supporting loved ones back home.<\/p>\n

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Months of training came together in one moment at the departure gate, where determination outweighed nerves.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The workers will train and work as package distributors, gaining valuable skills, supporting their families, and forging new connections abroad.<\/p>\n

After months of preparation, the moment feels both surreal and hard earned, the result of months of study, assessments, and anticipation.<\/p>\n

Ricardo, a 36-year-old Maya man from Alta Verapaz, a region in northern Guatemala known for its rich coffee production, used to wake up at 1am to travel to Guatemala City for the training sessions organised as part of the pilot project.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He hoped this new chapter can help him build a more stable future at home.<\/p>\n

Oscar, a car mechanic, along with Douglas and John, all said they are undertaking the journey to provide their children with a safer and brighter future.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I got the news, I couldn\u2019t believe it,\u201d he said. \u201cI had applied for the programme a year earlier and had almost lost hope. Then, suddenly, I got the call. I\u2019m going with pride; I want to show what Guatemalans are made of.\u201d<\/p>\n

For several participants, a simple social media post announcing the opportunity was the first step toward a possibility they had never imagined.<\/p>\n

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\"Technical<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 IOM\/Melisa Kljuca\/Jonathan Mazariegos<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Technical training in automotive systems and safety prepared the men for the challenges ahead, strengthening their skills long before they boarded the plane.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In the months before their departure, the group attended courses learning skills they said would stay with them for life \u2013 studying engines, maintenance systems and the correct names of car parts.<\/p>\n

The group also attended German language classes organised by IOM, intercultural sessions, and virtual tours of their future workplace.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What they practice abroad will carry back home, strengthening their communities, inspiring others, and creating small shifts across borders.<\/p>\n

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