In his native Syria, Mohammed Kassim worked as an electrician.

But having learned the trade informally, he lacked the credentials to show for it.

Now, in his adopted homeland, the 30-year-old is receiving the training he never had and he is getting paid to do it by a company dangling the promise of a job that could vault him from struggling refugee to member of the German middle class.

The programme that is helping tens of thousands of refugees rebuild their lives was not created for the newcomers who have converged on Germany to escape war, oppression and poverty.

Instead, Germany’s apprenticeship system is a fixture of the economy with roots in medieval times.

The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees Show all 26 1 /26 The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-main-0.jpg Children who live in Za’atari Refugee Camp with an object that they have brought from Syria. Each photo has an incredibly powerful story behind it. There are images of children holding various objects, including photos of their fathers who were killed in the war, toys which comforted them as they fled the conflict and even a set of house keys, which Rudaina hopes to use when she returns to Syria. Unicef/Herwig Photos Unicef/Christopher Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-8.jpg Omar, 11. Omar holds his teddy bear Ben 10 in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. â€œMy Ben 10 transforms into an alien from space and he saves the world,â€ says the 11 year old. â€œI brought it from Syria. My brother gave it to me before he died. Omar lost both of his older brothers in the conflict. His brother Abdulrahman was just 7 years old when he died. â€œHe bought it for me in the market and told me to take care of it. We used to watch the cartoon together. I still watch it now.â€ Omar doesnâ€™t remember much about his home in Syria but he thinks it was as big as a UNICEF Makani centre, where he goes for learning and psychosocial support. â€œMost of our stuff we had to leave behind but my mum packed Ben 10 so I could play with it.â€ â€œItâ€™s so important to me. This toy is as precious to me as my own brother. Iâ€™m going to keep it forever.â€ The best part of Omarâ€™s day is sunset when he comes home from school and Makani, eats food and does his homework sitting with his family. His favourite subject is Maths and he studies hard to achieve his dream. â€œI want to become a pilot. I used to be afraid of planes but now I want to travel. Maybe if I get on a plane I wonâ€™t be afraid anymore.â€ Omar now has two little sisters in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. He lets his youngest sister Islam play with Ben 10. When he gets dirty he puts him in the washing machine. â€œIâ€™m the only boy now. I think my brother would be proud of me.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community-bas Â© UNICEF/UN0264951/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-10.jpg Omar, 11. Omar still has his teddy bear Ben 10 from Syria in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. â€œMy Ben 10 transforms into an alien from space and he saves the world,â€ says the 11 year old. â€œI brought it from Syria. My brother gave it to me before he died. Omar lost both of his older brothers in the conflict. His brother Abdulrahman was just 7 years old when he died. â€œHe bought it for me in the market and told me to take care of it. We used to watch the cartoon together. I still watch it now.â€ Omar doesnâ€™t remember much about his home in Syria but he thinks it was as big as a UNICEF Makani centre, where he goes for learning and psychosocial support. â€œMost of our stuff we had to leave behind but my mum packed Ben 10 so I could play with it.â€ â€œItâ€™s so important to me. This toy is as precious to me as my own brother. Iâ€™m going to keep it forever.â€ The best part of Omarâ€™s day is sunset when he comes home from school and Makani, eats food and does his homework sitting with his family. His favourite subject is Maths and he studies hard to achieve his dream. â€œI want to become a pilot. I used to be afraid of planes but now I want to travel. Maybe if I get on a plane I wonâ€™t be afraid anymore.â€ Omar now has two little sisters in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. He lets his youngest sister Islam play with Ben 10. When he gets dirty he puts him in the washing machine. â€œIâ€™m the only boy now. I think my brother would be proud of me.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced Â© UNICEF/UN0264949/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-4.jpg Yahya, 13 years, holds a passport photo of himself, in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. â€œThis is a photo of me. Itâ€™s my memory. It means a lot to me because it was taken for my school registration form. I was in the first grade for only one week and then we had to come here.â€ â€œI have memories from this time, both good and bad. I remember how my school looked â€“ it was beautiful. I had started making friends and playing football. â€œBut the bad memories are of the war, when we were under bombing. I want to forget this memory and the memory of the journey here.â€ â€œIt was nighttime when we left Syria and we could hardly see the road in front of us. We moved through valleys full of thorns that hurt when we stepped on them. People started throwing away their belongings because of how hard the journey was â€“ anything heavy had to go. I had to leave behind my school books, my pens and my colours because my mum told me too. She said it wouldnâ€™t be long before we came back home. But itâ€™s been six years.â€ He is now in sixth grade. â€œSchool is good here.â€ When he grows up, he wants to be a forensic doctor. â€œEverything has changed â€“ my school, my home, my friends. I wish I had the power to restore Syria.â€ He keeps his photo safe so he can remember his past when he looks at it. â€œThis photo is part of my childhood. When I look at this photo, it makes me smile to see myself and Iâ€™m happy to have a memory of when I was younger in Syria.â€ â€œI was only six then. Now my biggest wish is to return to Syria and see my house and my school. I want Syria to be safe once again.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of th Â© UNICEF/UN0264920/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-7.jpg Qusai, 13 years, holds a schoolbag in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. â€œI was in first grade in Syria and my dad gave me this schoolbag. I was only little then but now Iâ€™m in the sixth grade.â€ Although the schoolbag is now too small for him, he keeps it safe. â€œItâ€™s important to me because my father gave it to me as a gift and I remember him by it. Also because it is from my country.â€ He still has happy memories from life in Syria, including going to school. â€œI used to feel really happy when break came and I could go to the shop. I remember playing in the schoolyard â€“ my friends chasing me and me chasing them.â€ Although he preferred his school in Syria, he still enjoys going to school in the camp. His favourite subject is English and he wants to become an English teacher. He has no plans to give up the old schoolbag. â€œI will keep this schoolbag forever. I will tell my children my father gave this to me and I kept it safe for all these years to show you.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community-based approach to fulfil its vision of Makani centres to be self-sustained by Syrian staff, and for children and their families to become empowered to lead on the design and implementation of their own activities. This localization of the operation has reduced operating costs by 30 per cent, while improving the responsiveness to local needs and engagement of their surrounding community. It will also ensure that Makani centres remain a sustainable fixture in the camps, so Â© UNICEF/UN0264952/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-5.jpg Qusai, 13 years, still owns his schoolbag from Syria in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. â€œI was in first grade in Syria and my dad gave me this schoolbag. I was only little then but now Iâ€™m in the sixth grade.â€ Although the schoolbag is now too small for him, he keeps it safe. â€œItâ€™s important to me because my father gave it to me as a gift and I remember him by it. Also because it is from my country.â€ He still has happy memories from life in Syria, including going to school. â€œI used to feel really happy when break came and I could go to the shop. I remember playing in the schoolyard â€“ my friends chasing me and me chasing them.â€ Although he preferred his school in Syria, he still enjoys going to school in the camp. His favourite subject is English and he wants to become an English teacher. He has no plans to give up the old schoolbag. â€œI will keep this schoolbag forever. I will tell my children my father gave this to me and I kept it safe for all these years to show you.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community-based approach to fulfil its vision of Makani centres to be self-sustained by Syrian staff, and for children and their families to become empowered to lead on the design and implementation of their own activities. This localization of the operation has reduced operating costs by 30 per cent, while improving the responsiveness to local needs and engagement of their surrounding community. It will also ensure that Makani centres remain a sustainable fixtur Â© UNICEF/UN0264954/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-3.jpg Ayoub, 13 years, holds a set of spoons in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. â€œThese are my spoons. I was six when I left Syria. I wanted to take them with me from Syria as a memory so I grabbed them as we were leaving the house and I carried them the whole way here.â€ â€œI used to eat my meals with them back at home so I thought that I am going to need them to eat when I come to the camp.â€ Ayoub has dropped out of school in the camp but he continues to attend a Makani centre for learning and psychosocial support. â€œWhen I grow up, I want to be a taxi driver because I want to leave the camp and go everywhere. Iâ€™ve been in a taxi before and I loved it. Inside the camp we donâ€™t have taxis, only bicycles. Iâ€™m not in school so I canâ€™t be a doctor or an engineer but I think itâ€™s the easiest thing for me to do when I grow up.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community-based approach to fulfil its vision of Makani centres to be self-sustained by Syrian staff, and for children and their families to become empowered to lead on the design and implementation of their own activities. This localization of the operation has reduced operating costs by 30 per cent, while improving the responsiveness to local needs and engagement of their surrounding community. It will also ensure that Makani centres remain a sustainable fixture in the camps, so that vulnerable children and communities can continue to access high-quality services which promote their well-being, development and resilienc Â© UNICEF/UN0264921/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-6.jpg Hamza, 14 years, holds a handwritten note, from his teacher in Syria, in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. â€œThis note was written by my teacher when I was in first grade in Syria. Itâ€™s a thank you letter to my family saying that I am a good student.â€ The note calls Hamza a star. â€œI made sure to put it in my bag when we were coming here.â€ Hamza is now in the eighth grade and has made a big effort to keep achieving academically, despite the disruption to his education. â€œItâ€™s important for me to keep it because it reminds me of when I was the best student in my class.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community-based approach to fulfil its vision of Makani centres to be self-sustained by Syrian staff, and for children and their families to become empowered to lead on the design and implementation of their own activities. This localization of the operation has reduced operating costs by 30 per cent, while improving the responsiveness to local needs and engagement of their surrounding community. It will also ensure that Makani centres remain a sustainable fixture in the camps, so that vulnerable children and communities can continue to access high-quality services which promote their well-being, development and resilience for years to come. UNICEF has supported the healthy growth and development of children in Za'atari refugee camp since it opened in 2012. UNICEF provides WASH, protection, education, health and nutrition, youth and adolescent services and social protection Â© UNICEF/UN0264953/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-2.jpg Mohammad, 16 years, holds his hat in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. â€œThis is my hat. My father used to work in Damascus. He bought it there and gave it to me. Life then was magnificent.â€ He still remembers the beginning of the conflict in Syria. â€œChildren were being killed and houses were being bombed. My father feared for our lives and for our future.â€ â€œWhen we had to leave Syria, it was winter. I remember crossing a valley and the ground being difficult to walk on. It was dangerous, cars were sliding on the ice.â€ Mohammad brought as much of his clothing as he could carry to Zaâ€™atari but the hat remains his most loved item. â€œI wore it all the way crossing to Jordan and I still wear it every winter. Itâ€™s so precious, it reminds me of Syria. And itâ€™s a gift from my Dad which is why it means so much to me.â€ Mohammad lives with his parents and brothers and sisters in the camp. He is in tenth grade and likes school. He feels like the camp is home because he is surrounded by his family and a bigger Syrian community who keep their memories alive. â€œMy parents tell me about when we were little. They say that Syria was beautiful. I will go back home to my village and continue living there. I will bring my hat and tell my children everything about my story.â€ When asked if itâ€™s important for children in Zaâ€™atari to try to remember Syria when some of the memories are so traumatic, he replies straight away â€“ â€œBoth. I think itâ€™s very important to keep memories but also to forget the horrors of war.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Â© UNICEF/UN0264922/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-1.jpg Mohammad, 16 years, wears his hat from Syria in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. â€œThis is my hat. My father used to work in Damascus. He bought it there and gave it to me. Life then was magnificent.â€ He still remembers the beginning of the conflict in Syria. â€œChildren were being killed and houses were being bombed. My father feared for our lives and for our future.â€ â€œWhen we had to leave Syria, it was winter. I remember crossing a valley and the ground being difficult to walk on. It was dangerous, cars were sliding on the ice.â€ Mohammad brought as much of his clothing as he could carry to Zaâ€™atari but the hat remains his most loved item. â€œI wore it all the way crossing to Jordan and I still wear it every winter. Itâ€™s so precious, it reminds me of Syria. And itâ€™s a gift from my Dad which is why it means so much to me.â€ Mohammad lives with his parents and brothers and sisters in the camp. He is in tenth grade and likes school. He feels like the camp is home because he is surrounded by his family and a bigger Syrian community who keep their memories alive. â€œMy parents tell me about when we were little. They say that Syria was beautiful. I will go back home to my village and continue living there. I will bring my hat and tell my children everything about my story.â€ When asked if itâ€™s important for children in Zaâ€™atari to try to remember Syria when some of the memories are so traumatic, he replies straight away â€“ â€œBoth. I think itâ€™s very important to keep memories but also to forget the horrors of war.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have Â© UNICEF/UN0264923/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-24.jpg Ahmad, 12 years, holds a key ring inscribed with his fatherâ€™s name in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. â€œThis key ring belonged to my dad, I inherited it from him a long time ago. He died of a heart attack at the start of the war in Syria.â€ â€œI barely have any memories of my Dad but the few I have are very precious. My favourite memory is the time he brought us to the river for a picnic and we played in the water.â€ â€œIf I want to remember him, I take out his key ring and look at it.â€ Ahmad wants to be an architect when he grows us because his father worked in construction. â€œI still have a long way to go as I am only in the sixth grade but I will do my best. It would make my Dad proud of me.â€ Ahmad lives with his grandmother and brother in the camp. Although they donâ€™t have much, he says that their love is enough for him. Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community-based approach to fulfil its vision of Makani centres to be self-sustained by Syrian staff, and for children and their families to become empowered to lead on the design and implementation of their own activities. This localization of the operation has reduced operating costs by 30 per cent, while improving the responsiveness to local needs and engagement of their surrounding community. It will also ensure that Makani centres remain a sustainable fixture in the camps, so that vulnerable children and communities can continue to access high-quality services which promote their well-being, development and resilie Â© UNICEF/UN0264925/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-25.jpg Ahmad, 12 years, has a key ring inscribed with his fatherâ€™s name in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. â€œThis key ring belonged to my dad, I inherited it from him a long time ago. He died of a heart attack at the start of the war in Syria.â€ â€œI barely have any memories of my dad but the few I have are very precious. My favourite memory is the time he brought us to the river for a picnic and we played in the water.â€ â€œIf I want to remember him, I take out his key ring and look at it.â€ Ahmad wants to be an architect when he grows us because his father worked in construction. â€œI still have a long way to go as I am only in the sixth grade but I will do my best. It would make my dad proud of me.â€ Ahmad lives with his grandmother and brother in the camp. Although they donâ€™t have much, he says that their love is enough for him. Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community-based approach to fulfil its vision of Makani centres to be self-sustained by Syrian staff, and for children and their families to become empowered to lead on the design and implementation of their own activities. This localization of the operation has reduced operating costs by 30 per cent, while improving the responsiveness to local needs and engagement of their surrounding community. It will also ensure that Makani centres remain a sustainable fixture in the camps, so that vulnerable children and communities can continue to access high-quality services which promote their well-being, development and resilien Â© UNICEF/UN0264924/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-23.jpg Yara, 10 years, holds a doll in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. â€œThis toy is from Syria. Her name is Farah.â€ Yaraâ€™s father gave her Farah for her birthday. â€œHe used to buy me so many things.â€ She enjoys taking off Farahâ€™s dress, washing it and dressing her again. â€œI take care of her because I love her. I feel happy when Iâ€™m with her.â€ â€œI take her everywhere. I sleep with her. I tell her the story of Little Red Riding Hood - itâ€™s about a wolf - to put her to sleep.â€ Yara still has memories of her bedroom in Syria. â€œIt was white and I had teddy bears and one was really big. Bigger than me.â€ â€œIt got scary in Syria. There were shootings. Dad said get your stuff together, weâ€™re going.â€ â€œI wanted to bring that teddy bear here but my parents said no, it was too big. So I put Farah in my bag. I told her weâ€™re going to Zaâ€™atari. I told her donâ€™t made any sound because if you do, we canâ€™t go in. She was scared.â€ â€œWe were both happy when we arrived in Zaâ€™atari. I brought a pink dress too just like Farahâ€™s. â€œI am never going to get rid of her. I have so many toys, even one that costs 5 JD, but I love this one.â€ Yara goes to school in the camp and wants to be a pharmacist when she grows up so she can give people medicine that will heal them. She wants to return to Syria. â€œI will dress her up and get her ready and we will go. But this time, Iâ€™m bringing all of my toys.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community-based approach t Â© UNICEF/UN0264936/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-22.jpg Yara, 10 years, still has her doll from Syria in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. â€œThis toy is from Syria. Her name is Farah.â€ Yaraâ€™s father gave her Farah for her birthday. â€œHe used to buy me so many things.â€ She enjoys taking off Farahâ€™s dress, washing it and dressing her again. â€œI take care of her because I love her. I feel happy when Iâ€™m with her.â€ â€œI take her everywhere. I sleep with her. I tell her the story of Little Red Riding Hood - itâ€™s about a wolf - to put her to sleep.â€ Yara still has memories of her bedroom in Syria. â€œIt was white and I had teddy bears and one was really big. Bigger than me.â€ â€œIt got scary in Syria. There were shootings. Dad said get your stuff together, weâ€™re going.â€ â€œI wanted to bring that teddy bear here but my parents said no, it was too big. So I put Farah in my bag. I told her weâ€™re going to Zaâ€™atari. I told her donâ€™t made any sound because if you do, we canâ€™t go in. She was scared.â€ â€œWe were both happy when we arrived in Zaâ€™atari. I brought a pink dress too just like Farahâ€™s. â€œI am never going to get rid of her. I have so many toys, even one that costs 5 JD, but I love this one.â€ Yara goes to school in the camp and wants to be a pharmacist when she grows up so she can give people medicine that will heal them. She wants to return to Syria. â€œI will dress her up and get her ready and we will go. But this time, Iâ€™m bringing all of my toys.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community- Â© UNICEF/UN0264937/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-20.jpg Hala, 11 years, in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp, holding a photo of her and her older brother in Syria. â€œMy favourite photo is me and my brother together. It was a Friday. My mum had dressed me nicely for Friday prayer, then we went to the market and a restaurant. After that we went to a photographerâ€™s studio where this photo was taken.â€ Hala keeps her photos from Syria hidden in her closet to keep them safe. She takes them out from time to time to look at them. â€œI only remember the war. I used to be so afraid. Bombs used to fall all around our house.â€ â€œWithout photos, I wouldnâ€™t know what it was like to be a kid in Syria. Because Syria is in my heart, it is my country where I was born. When I look at this photo, I remember those days again. There arenâ€™t enough words to describe the life I see in these photos. Itâ€™s pure happiness.â€ Hala missed two years of her education because of the conflict â€“ one in Syria and one in Jordan. Now she is in the fourth grade. â€œI love school a lot. Arabic is my favourite subject and I want to be a surgeon. My mum told me that it was her dream when she was a child to become one but she got married instead. I want her to fulfil her dream through me.â€ As well as getting a good education, Hala knows what it will take to achieve her dream. â€œI have to be courageous and not fear anything.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community-based approach to fulfil its vision of Makani centres to be self-sustained by Syrian staff, and Â© UNICEF/UN0264939/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-21.jpg Hala, 11 years, in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp, still has a photo of her and her older brother in Syria. â€œMy favourite photo is me and my brother together. It was a Friday. My mum had dressed me nicely for Friday prayer, then we went to the market and a restaurant. After that we went to a photographerâ€™s studio where this photo was taken.â€ Hala keeps her photos from Syria hidden in her closet to keep them safe. She takes them out from time to time to look at them. â€œI only remember the war. I used to be so afraid. Bombs used to fall all around our house.â€ â€œWithout photos, I wouldnâ€™t know what it was like to be a kid in Syria. Because Syria is in my heart, it is my country where I was born. When I look at this photo, I remember those days again. There arenâ€™t enough words to describe the life I see in these photos. Itâ€™s pure happiness.â€ Hala missed two years of her education because of the conflict â€“ one in Syria and one in Jordan. Now she is in the fourth grade. â€œI love school a lot. Arabic is my favourite subject and I want to be a surgeon. My mum told me that it was her dream when she was a child to become one but she got married instead. I want her to fulfil her dream through me.â€ As well as getting a good education, Hala knows what it will take to achieve her dream. â€œI have to be courageous and not fear anything.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community-based approach to fulfil its vision of Makani centres to be self-sustained by Syrian staff, a Â© UNICEF/UN0264938/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-19.jpg Rudaina, 11 years, holds house keys in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. â€œThese are my house keys. I brought them with me because when we go back to Syria, Iâ€™m going to be the one who opens the door.â€ â€œMy parents tell me that Syria is beautiful. I was so little that I donâ€™t remember.â€ Rudaina is in fourth grade and her favourite subject is Maths. She wants to be a pediatrician when she grows up. â€œWe once had a home but now we live in a caravan.â€ â€œI feel so sad when I hold the keys because Iâ€™m so far away from home.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community-based approach to fulfil its vision of Makani centres to be self-sustained by Syrian staff, and for children and their families to become empowered to lead on the design and implementation of their own activities. This localization of the operation has reduced operating costs by 30 per cent, while improving the responsiveness to local needs and engagement of their surrounding community. It will also ensure that Makani centres remain a sustainable fixture in the camps, so that vulnerable children and communities can continue to access high-quality services which promote their well-being, development and resilience for years to come. UNICEF has supported the healthy growth and development of children in Za'atari refugee camp since it opened in 2012. UNICEF provides WASH, protection, education, health and nutrition, youth and adolescent services and social protection for the over 44,000 children who live there an Â© UNICEF/UN0264940/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-18.jpg Rudaina, 11 years, still has her house keys from Syria in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. â€œThese are my house keys. I brought them with me because when we go back to Syria, Iâ€™m going to be the one who opens the door.â€ â€œMy parents tell me that Syria is beautiful. I was so little that I donâ€™t remember.â€ Rudaina is in fourth grade and her favourite subject is Maths. She wants to be a pediatrician when she grows up. â€œWe once had a home but now we live in a caravan.â€ â€œI feel so sad when I hold the keys because Iâ€™m so far away from home.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community-based approach to fulfil its vision of Makani centres to be self-sustained by Syrian staff, and for children and their families to become empowered to lead on the design and implementation of their own activities. This localization of the operation has reduced operating costs by 30 per cent, while improving the responsiveness to local needs and engagement of their surrounding community. It will also ensure that Makani centres remain a sustainable fixture in the camps, so that vulnerable children and communities can continue to access high-quality services which promote their well-being, development and resilience for years to come. UNICEF has supported the healthy growth and development of children in Za'atari refugee camp since it opened in 2012. UNICEF provides WASH, protection, education, health and nutrition, youth and adolescent services and social protection for the over 44,000 childr Â© UNICEF/UN0264941/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-17.jpg Nour, 12 years, holds a blanket in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. â€œThis is my blanket. When I was little and it was my birthday, my grandmother bought it for me.â€ â€œI remember that we had to flee because there was bombing. It was night time. Thatâ€™s why we came here.â€ â€œI was covered in it when I was little and I came here. It protected me against the cold and the rain. I was scared but my mum held me.â€ Nour wants to be a teacher when she grows up. Her favourite subject is Social Studies because she likes it and her teacher. â€œI still have feelings when I cover myself in this blanket. I feel sadness thinking about the old beautiful days in Syria. But I also feel protected and safe.â€ â€œIâ€™m going to keep it as long as I can.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community-based approach to fulfil its vision of Makani centres to be self-sustained by Syrian staff, and for children and their families to become empowered to lead on the design and implementation of their own activities. This localization of the operation has reduced operating costs by 30 per cent, while improving the responsiveness to local needs and engagement of their surrounding community. It will also ensure that Makani centres remain a sustainable fixture in the camps, so that vulnerable children and communities can continue to access high-quality services which promote their well-being, development and resilience for years to come. UNICEF has supported the healthy growth and development of children i Â© UNICEF/UN0264942/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-16.jpg Nour, 12 years, still has her blanket from Syria in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. â€œThis is my blanket. When I was little and it was my birthday, my grandmother bought it for me.â€ â€œI remember that we had to flee because there was bombing. It was night time. Thatâ€™s why we came here.â€ â€œI was covered in it when I was little and I came here. It protected me against the cold and the rain. I was scared but my mum held me.â€ Nour wants to be a teacher when she grows up. Her favourite subject is Social Studies because she likes it and her teacher. â€œI still have feelings when I cover myself in this blanket. I feel sadness thinking about the old beautiful days in Syria. But I also feel protected and safe.â€ â€œIâ€™m going to keep it as long as I can.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community-based approach to fulfil its vision of Makani centres to be self-sustained by Syrian staff, and for children and their families to become empowered to lead on the design and implementation of their own activities. This localization of the operation has reduced operating costs by 30 per cent, while improving the responsiveness to local needs and engagement of their surrounding community. It will also ensure that Makani centres remain a sustainable fixture in the camps, so that vulnerable children and communities can continue to access high-quality services which promote their well-being, development and resilience for years to come. UNICEF has supported the healthy growth and developme Â© UNICEF/UN0264943/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-15.jpg Iman, 13 years, holds her doll in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. â€œHer name is Lulu. Sheâ€™s a gift from my mum so sheâ€™s very important. I love her!â€ â€œWe brought her here from Syria. When I was little and upset, my parents would give me this toy and I would stop crying.â€ â€œI feel safe as long as Lulu is with me. When the war started and there was shooting, I used to hug her to feel safe.â€ â€œI remember coming here. It was at night and it was dark. On the journey I felt protected having her with me.â€ These days, having Lulu near still makes Iman feel better whenever she is afraid or sad. She keeps her hidden but still lets her little sister play with her. â€œI will keep Lulu forever.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community-based approach to fulfil its vision of Makani centres to be self-sustained by Syrian staff, and for children and their families to become empowered to lead on the design and implementation of their own activities. This localization of the operation has reduced operating costs by 30 per cent, while improving the responsiveness to local needs and engagement of their surrounding community. It will also ensure that Makani centres remain a sustainable fixture in the camps, so that vulnerable children and communities can continue to access high-quality services which promote their well-being, development and resilience for years to come. UNICEF has supported the healthy growth and development of children in Za'atari refugee camp since it opened in 20 Â© UNICEF/UN0264944/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-12.jpg Iman, 13 years, still has her doll from Syria in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp. â€œHer name is Lulu. Sheâ€™s a gift from my mum so sheâ€™s very important. I love her!â€ â€œWe brought her here from Syria. When I was little and upset, my parents would give me this toy and I would stop crying.â€ â€œI feel safe as long as Lulu is with me. When the war started and there was shooting, I used to hug her to feel safe.â€ â€œI remember coming here. It was at night and it was dark. On the journey I felt protected having her with me.â€ These days, having Lulu near still makes Iman feel better whenever she is afraid or sad. She keeps her hidden but still lets her little sister play with her. â€œI will keep Lulu forever.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community-based approach to fulfil its vision of Makani centres to be self-sustained by Syrian staff, and for children and their families to become empowered to lead on the design and implementation of their own activities. This localization of the operation has reduced operating costs by 30 per cent, while improving the responsiveness to local needs and engagement of their surrounding community. It will also ensure that Makani centres remain a sustainable fixture in the camps, so that vulnerable children and communities can continue to access high-quality services which promote their well-being, development and resilience for years to come. UNICEF has supported the healthy growth and development of children in Za'atari refugee camp since Â© UNICEF/UN0264947/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-14.jpg Zaina*, 13 years, in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp holding a framed photo of her father. â€œThatâ€™s my fatherâ€™s photo. When I was in first grade he died in the war.â€ â€œI wanted to bring this with me when I came here. It was hanging on the wall. I saw my mother putting stuff together so I ran to the photo and took it off the wall and put it in her bag.â€ â€œI have many memories of all the toys he gave me that I couldnâ€™t bring with me.â€ Zaina has been living in the camp for six years. She is in sixth grade and her favourite subject is English. She wants to be a lawyer when she grows up. â€œI wish to return to Syria and for life to be like it was before. I will put my fatherâ€™s photo back on the wall where it was hanging before.â€ *name changed to protect identity Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community-based approach to fulfil its vision of Makani centres to be self-sustained by Syrian staff, and for children and their families to become empowered to lead on the design and implementation of their own activities. This localization of the operation has reduced operating costs by 30 per cent, while improving the responsiveness to local needs and engagement of their surrounding community. It will also ensure that Makani centres remain a sustainable fixture in the camps, so that vulnerable children and communities can continue to access high-quality services which promote their well-being, development and resilience for years to come. UNICEF has supported the healthy grow Â© UNICEF/UN0264945/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-13.jpg â€œI brought this dog,â€ says Shatha, 15 years. â€œI was little when we left Syria â€“ only 8 or 9 years old. I donâ€™t remember much. â€œWhen we had to leave, I took him with me, I was thinking he would protect me. I had so many toys to choose from but he was my favourite â€“ I played with him a lot. â€œI remember being on the bus here and sleeping a lot. I held him the whole way to Zaâ€™atari. â€œThe camp was full of tents back then and life was hard, really hard. I kept getting lost. I never let go of my dog in those first days so he could protect me. â€œNow life is sweet. We have these centres and schools and weâ€™re getting an education. We have friends and parties.â€ Shatha wants to be a lawyer when she grows up to protect herself and others. â€œI love the Makani, itâ€™s my favourite place in the camp. We learn and we play here. I play lots of football and like the computers. â€œMy toy dog will always be with me. Iâ€™ll tell my children my whole life story and his â€“ because itâ€™s the same as mine.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community-based approach to fulfil its vision of Makani centres to be self-sustained by Syrian staff, and for children and their families to become empowered to lead on the design and implementation of their own activities. This localization of the operation has reduced operating costs by 30 per cent, while improving the responsiveness to local needs and engagement of their surrounding community. It will also ensure that Makani centres re Â© UNICEF/UN0264946/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-11.jpg â€œI brought this dog,â€ says Shatha, 15 years. â€œI was little when we left Syria â€“ only 8 or 9 years old. I donâ€™t remember much. â€œWhen we had to leave, I took him with me, I was thinking he would protect me. I had so many toys to choose from but he was my favourite â€“ I played with him a lot. â€œI remember being on the bus here and sleeping a lot. I held him the whole way to Zaâ€™atari. â€œThe camp was full of tents back then and life was hard, really hard. I kept getting lost. I never let go of my dog in those first days so he could protect me. â€œNow life is sweet. We have these centres and schools and weâ€™re getting an education. We have friends and parties.â€ Shatha wants to be a lawyer when she grows up to protect herself and others. â€œI love the Makani, itâ€™s my favourite place in the camp. We learn and we play here. I play lots of football and like the computers. â€œMy toy dog will always be with me. Iâ€™ll tell my children my whole life story and his â€“ because itâ€™s the same as mine.â€ Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community-based approach to fulfil its vision of Makani centres to be self-sustained by Syrian staff, and for children and their families to become empowered to lead on the design and implementation of their own activities. This localization of the operation has reduced operating costs by 30 per cent, while improving the responsiveness to local needs and engagement of their surrounding community. It will also ensure that Makani centres r Â© UNICEF/UN0264948/Herwig Unicef/Herwig The precious objects bringing comfort to Syrian refugees syria-refugees-objects-9.jpg Sham*, 7 years, in Zaâ€™atari Refugee Camp holding a photo of her father. â€œThat photo was taken in Syria. Itâ€™s important to me because my father died and I loved him so much.â€ â€œHe used to tell me stories â€“ stories about Syria. I loved his stories so much.â€ â€œOne day he told me we were going to the camp in five days. He said the war is going to get bad so you have to go. He told me you will grow older and I need you to look after your mother.â€ â€œHe wouldnâ€™t come with us and he died in Syria.â€ Sham says that if she ever lost the photos of her father, she would never stop looking for them. To keep them safe, she hides them in a bag and then hides the bag in their caravan. She lives with her mother, two brothers and one sister in the camp. She goes to school and is in the second grade. â€œI like to go to school to learn. Science is my favourite subject. I study hard so I can practice on my own without using the books.â€ â€œIf my Dad was here now he would ask me â€˜what do you want to be when your grow upâ€™ and I would say â€˜I want to be an engineer just like youâ€™. He would be really proud of me.â€ *name changed to protect identity Makani (which translates as â€˜My Spaceâ€™) centres provide an integrated set of services to children in the camp, including learning support, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation, life skills and innovation labs. In Zaâ€™atari, there are 13 Makani centres serving over 7,000 children. Located in every district of the camp, vulnerable children, youth and communities have access to Makani, no matter where they live. Since January 2018, UNICEF has introduced a community-based approach to fulfil its vision of Makani centres to be self-sustained by Syrian staff, and for children and their families to become empowered to lead on the design and implementation of their own activities. This localization of the operation has reduced operating costs by 30 pe Â© UNICEF/UN0264950/Herwig Unicef/Herwig

But with the national unemployment rate at a 30-year low, young Germans have lost their appetite for vocational training.

Companies face a shortage of skilled workers that could ultimately derail their growth.

“We have real reasons – not just soft, feel-good ones – to assist and help and push refugees into vocational training,” said Günter Hirth, an economist with the Chamber of Commerce in the central German city of Hanover. “The German economy needs qualified workers.”

Whether it can find them among the refugee population could determine the answer to two of the country’s most daunting questions: can Germany integrate its vast numbers of asylum seekers and can its economy continue to hum as the native-born population ages?

On both counts, early indications have been promising, if inconclusive.

Nearly four years after German Chancellor Angela Merkel chose to leave the country’s borders open amid a vast influx of asylum seekers to Europe, a significant majority of the approximately 1.5 million people who have arrived since remain out of the work force.

Many are taking required integration and language courses. Nearly 200,000 are registered as unemployed.

But after spending billions of euros to accommodate the newcomers, Germany is beginning to reap some gains.

The number who are either working or participating in a job training program has been growing, and was at more than 400,000 as of the end of 2018.

Of those, 44,000 were enrolled in apprenticeships, according to German business groups.

That’s on pace with, or even slightly ahead of, what many experts had predicted.

“We have a benchmark for how it could develop, and after three-and-a-half years, we’re on track,” said Mr Hirth, who cited the integration of refugees from the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s as a model.

In that case, he said, about 80 percent of working-age adults had jobs after eight years.

The current generation of refugees, Mr Hirth said, benefits from the fact that Germany enjoys “an ideal economic environment,” with the unemployment rate below five percent.

Syrian refugee families targeted with racial abuse at their new Northern Ireland homes

Germany, meanwhile, is benefiting from the demographic profile of its new arrivals, about 60 percent of whom were 25 or younger.

“It wasn’t the old people who fled. It was the young people,” he said. “This is excellent for us.”

With a shrinking native population, Germany desperately needs those young people.

“If Germans want to maintain their economic well-being, we need about half a million immigrants every year,” said Wolfgang Kaschuba, former director of the Berlin Institute for Empirical Integration and Migration Research.

“We need to guarantee that our society stays young, because it’s ageing dramatically.”

Getting the newcomers into the workforce has not been easy.

The vast majority arrived without knowing German – a notoriously difficult language – and without the job skills that German companies seek.

Of those who do work, many have taken low-paid jobs at restaurants, in warehouses or in the gig economy, performing on-demand deliveries.

Sigmar Walbrecht, who directs workforce integration projects at the Hanover Refugee Council, tries to convince refugees he meets that they would be better off training for a higher-skilled job, even if it pays less right now. But the allure of a quick paycheck is strong.

“They are under pressure. They have to pay money to their families back home and maybe to their traffickers. They want to get their own flats,” he said. “It’s hard to explain to them that in the long term, it’s much better to do an apprenticeship.”

The German apprentice system traces its origins to the guilds of the Middle Ages and is considered a worldwide model.

Apprentices split their time between a vocational school and on-the-job training, often spending three years or more mastering their profession.

They are sponsored by a company that invests in their skills and typically hires them once the training is complete.

Each year the programme churns out hundreds of thousands of master craftsmen and other professionals who have passed rigorous, nationally administered exams.

Experts say the system, and its exacting standards, has been a key factor in making Germany an industrial powerhouse.

But many young Germans are opting to bypass this traditional path to a middle-class life and gravitating towards university degrees instead.

Last year, one-third of German companies said they had training spots that went unfilled as vacancies hit a 20-year high.

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“It’s a war for talent,” said Melanie Fleig, who oversees training for Clarios, one of the world’s largest car-battery manufacturers. “Everyone wants to go to university and make a lot of money. No one wants to work on the shop floor.”

But Alan Ramadan does. The 32-year-old Syrian refugee shows up at 6:45 each morning at the company’s sprawling Hanover production facility. He learns how to weld, to solder, to drill.

“Back home, I liked to fix things with my hands. It was a hobby for me. And I thought: ‘Why not make that my job?’” said Mr Ramadan, who fled the war in Syria.

He has shown so much promise that he has been placed on a track that involves several additional years of training – and a higher payoff when he finishes.

“From refugee to German engineer,” Ms Fleig said. “That’s the goal.”

Mr Ramadan, who serves as a volunteer firefighter in Hanover when he’s not brushing up on one of his five languages or teaching himself math or physics online, acknowledges that he’s unusual among refugees.

For many, a lack of German keeps them from qualifying for an apprenticeship.

Conversational German isn’t enough. Technical German that’s specific to the field is required.

“They want to enter a programme,” he said. “But the language is so difficult.”

Other factors that hold down participation rates include the possibility that an asylum seeker could be deported.

Lara Trump says Angela Merkel spurred the ‘downfall of Germany’ by accepting refugees

Few companies want to invest in a worker who is still applying for refugee protection and may be turned down.

The German government has made some effort to ease that worry, instituting what is known as the 3-plus-2 rule: rejected asylum seekers can stay in their traineeships for three years and work for at least two more without worrying about being shipped out.

Proven skills and a work history can then be an advantage when they re-apply to stay.

At a technical school in the Hanover suburb of Garbsen, Sheraz Chaudry, 19, is hoping that success as an apprentice electrician is enough to keep him in Germany.

His services are certainly needed: the country’s electrician shortage is so severe that customers can face a weeks-long wait to get one.

In the nearly four years since arriving from his native Pakistan, Mr Chaudry has learned fluent German, made German friends and, along with his classmate Mr Kassim, has stood out as a star pupil to his German electrician instructor.

“I notice what a thirst for knowledge they have,” said Harald Kühn, 59, who has worked as an electrician across Europe, having graduated decades ago from a German apprenticeship program. “And in these professions, we need exactly that.”