Emirhan discovers a new profession with his mentor
Bern
Social issues
Emirhan Turkoglu, who moved to Switzerland from Turkey two and a half years ago, is considering an apprenticeship as an agricultural practitioner. Thanks to the support of Janine Eberle and the “ROCK YOUR LIFE!” program, he has discovered new career opportunities.
Türkoglu came up with the idea of this apprenticeship in conversation with Janine Eberle. The two have been meeting regularly for six months as part of the “ROCK YOUR LIFE!” program, sometimes in larger groups, but also occasionally one on one, when Eberle acts as Türkoglu’s mentor. Eberle, who works in an institute for adult continuing education, is involved in “ROCK YOUR LIFE!” as a volunteer and is unpaid.
“It’s important to me to build a friendly relationship with my mentee, in order to build mutual trust,” she says. Concrete help, such as career guidance, is not the only way to achieve this – for example, Türkoglu and Eberle have also gone cycling together. Eberle receives support from those in charge at “ROCK YOUR LIFE!” and says the mentoring program also benefits her. “I’m confronted with a world that is unfamiliar to me.”
Impressions
ROCK YOUR LIFE! supports young people with refugee experience through a mentoring program, helping them find their place in society, build confidence in their own abilities, and take their first steps into the world of work. The focus is on strengthening self-awareness, social, language, and cultural skills so they can actively and independently shape their future professional and social paths.