79 Laptops for learners Digital education is now an integral par t of the Austrian curriculum, but digital learning only works if you have the technical equipment for it. That ’s why Vorarlberg companies have joined forces and donated a total of 75 refurbished laptops to Caritas. Magenta Telekom has also provided SIM cards for free internet access and the Vorarlberg Chamber of Commerce has supplied 30 net work routers. This scheme is benefiting the 15 Caritas learning cafés in Vorarlberg, as well as several refugee families. Blum in Africa Development par tnership promoting dual vocational training in Kenya Our commitment to training does not stop at our national borders. Together with the state of Vorarlberg, a local sales par tner and the Austrian non-profit organisation ICEP, we are now taking our exper tise to Nairobi in Kenya. The goal of this development par tnership is to actively involve young people in economic life, to improve their chances in the jobs market and to establish cabinet making as a skilled profession in Kenya with secure future prospects. Since the star t of the project in September 2019, 42 cabinet makers have been trained, including 11 female apprentices. We are providing equipment such as modern machiner y for drilling and installing fit tings, as well as professional suppor t in set ting up a new training programme and helping train the teachers on site. Reverse mentoring Learning from each other : young people help the oldies in the digital workplace We have now completed the second round of our reverse mentoring scheme, in which the usual transfer of knowledge from more experienced colleagues to newcomers is reversed. This idea makes complete sense, especially when it comes to the “digital workplace”. Digital natives are used to the fast pace of the digital age and are usually quick to learn how to use the constantly changing IT systems. That ’s why we have set up an initiative where younger colleagues act as mentors for the older generation. The younger staf f are on hand to answer specific questions and provide helpful tips and tricks at a suitable and convenient time. We have also developed a special test to assess employees’ skills and help clarif y whether reverse mentoring is the right course of action. Other impor tant benefits of reverse mentoring include the net working oppor tunities and the development of skills among the young mentors, as well as the oppor tunit y for multigenerational interaction. This is how lifelong learning works today. Competing with the ver y best Our high-qualit y training meets the mark, even on an international scale. Blum apprentices regularly take par t in WorldSkills, the professional championships in which the world’s most accomplished per formers in each profession compete for the European and then the World Championship title, just like in a spor ting tournament. At ever y competition, the qualit y of Blum’s training is put to the test and our young adults also gain valuable international experience. Walter Schmolly, Director of Caritas Vorarlberg Education is the key to a better society. This scheme demonstrates the help that can be offered with a little bit of initiative and a network of different people. A huge thank you to everyone involved who have made this amazing scheme possible. Our previous successes at the WorldSkills Championships World championship titles European championship titles As of December 2022 Gold Silver Silver Bronze Bronze 9x 2x 6x 3x 13x
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