NAT//Master Waechtler: “Rasp and polish these surfaces.” ... “Do you know how that works?” Ehab Ali Musead: “As they say in German, ‘all beginnings are difficult.’” NAT//Instructor: “Move it down a little. You need to move down. Further down.” TITLE: “TK TK TK” EHAB ALI MUSEAD KNOWS ABOUT BEGINNINGS, AND HIS COLLEAGUE ABDO DOHAIM DOES TOO. THE TWO MIGRANTS ARRIVED IN GERMANY LAST YEAR AND HAVE APPLIED FOR REFUGEE STATUS, HOPING TO ESCAPE YEMEN’S CIVIL WAR. AND—FORTUNATELY FOR THEM—THEY HAD A DISTINCT ADVANTAGE, WHICH GAVE THEM A HEADSTART. //NAT//Waechtler: “In Germany we say, ‘practice makes perfect.’” Ehab: “It was probably very lucky that I studied German back home. But it’s a struggle. I didn’t actually speak a word of German for two years. Now it’s going well.” //NAT// Ehab: “Without loosening or turning it?” //NaT// Waechtler: “Yes, that’s right.” IT’S HARD TO FIND GERMAN-SPEAKERS IN THIS CURRENT TIDE OF MIGRANTS. BUT THOSE WHO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OR ARE ABLE TO LEARN IT QUICKLY PRESENT A BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR THE AGING GERMAN ECONOMY—AND FOR COMPANIES LIKE DRUCKGUS IN THE NORTHERN GERMAN CITY OF LUEBECK. //NAT// THE COMPANY JUMPED AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN THE TWO YEMINI MEN AFTER IT HAD LOOKED FAR AND WIDE FOR QUALIFIED APPRENTICES—WITHOUT SUCCESS. Master Waechtler: “It’s generally very difficult to find apprentices in the trades. Most students entering the workforce want to go into IT or continue their education. And we are losing out.” BUT DRUCKGUS ALSO TOOK ON A MAJOR RISK, ONE THAT OTHER COMPANIES CONTINUE TO SHY AWAY FROM. AT THE MOMENT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT MIGRANTS LIKE ABDO AND EHAB CAN STAY FOR THE DURATION OF AN APPRENTICESHIP—OR WORK IN GERMANY AFTER THEY ARE FINISHED. Abdo: “My application for asylum is pending. I am not officially recognized in Germany.” Axel: “That means that you could get deported.” Abdo: “Correct, yes.” THE MEN AND THEIR YEMINI FRIENDS ARE CAUGHT IN LIMBO. THEY HAVE ALREADY STARTED A NEW LIFE—BUT IT COULD BE TAKEN AWAY. MESSAGES FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS PAINT A BLEAK PICTURE OF WHAT’S GOING ON AT HOME. //NAT// Ehab (over cell phone carnage): “That’s happening right on our street.” THE YEMINI GOVERNMENT TOLD ABDO’S FAMILY THAT HIS BROTHER AND FATHER WERE KILLED BY FIGHTERS OF THE ISLAMIC STATE: Abdo [in tears]: “He was not just my father, but my brother and friend.” //NAT// Demonstrators: “Merkel must go! Merkel must go!” MEANWHILE PUBLIC PROTESTS AGAINST CHANCELLOR MERKEL’S POLICY OF WELCOMING MIGRANTS HAVE INCREASED, AND ASSAULTS ON REFUGEE HOMES HAVE TOO. //NAT// BOTH MEN FOLLOW THESE DEVELOPMENT CLOSELY, BUT SAY THEY FEEL SAFE AND WELCOMED, FOR THE MOST PART. Abdo: “I was out once and met three people on the street who looked at me and said, ‘Get out refugee! What are you doing here? Get out [racist slur]!’ They used more insults but I tried to avoid the situation entirely.’” ABDO SPENDS LOTS OF TIME WITH MARK LODE AND HIS FAMILY, WHO HELPED HIM FIND THE APPRENTICESHIP. THEY COOK AND EAT TOGETHER, AND THEY CONSIDER EACH OTHER FAMILY. //NAT//Daughter: “Like this?” //NAT//Abdo: “Yes, exactly.” LODE IS AN ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE REGIONAL TRADES ASSOCIATION—AND HE IS PUSHING FOR COMPANIES TO TAKE ON MORE MIGRANTS. Mark Lode: “Every refugee who completes an apprenticeship in Germany is an asset to our society, is an asset to our businesses, is an asset to the longevity of our trade companies. We depend on it. It’s very important for us as a trade organization to show where we stand. That we welcome refugees.” BOTH ABDO AND EBAB WANT TO STAY IN GERMANY AND MAKE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION TO THEIR NEW COUNTRY. //NAT// IT’S UNCLEAR IF THEY’LL BE ABLE TO.