Change of shift in Lennestadt: Experience inclusion up close!

Change of shift in Lennestadt: Experience inclusion up close!

In a remarkable initiative, the Werthmann workshops of the Caritas Association Olpe organized the “Shift Change” campaign in their department in Lennestadt. In this nationwide day of action, which deals with the professional participation of people with disabilities, employees of the workshops for people with disabilities exchanged their jobs with employees from regional companies and the city administration. The idea behind this exchange, which is also known as the "change of view", aims to discover new perspectives and reduce clichés.

Especially Tobias Puspas, the mayor of Lennestadt, and representatives of the Western Mark and Gustav Hensel GmbH & Co. KG companies were actively involved in the actions. They took the opportunity to better get to know the various tasks and skills of the 123 employees in the workshop. After a comprehensive tour, PUSPAS expressed his enthusiasm for the variety of activities and the important achievements that are performed in the workshops. "I was not aware of how valuable the work is for social participation and inclusion," he noted.

committed cooperation and new experiences

The exchange of employees went beyond the usual work framework. Lisa Kieserling and her colleague Christian Dümpelmann went to the town hall, where they were able to get to know the mayor's official business better. This offered not only insights into the challenges of municipal administration, but also the realization that many tasks outdoors and in direct contact with the citizens take place. "We were amazed at the versatility and dynamics of the work of the mayor," said Kieserling.

Bernhard Neuhäuser from Westmark emphasized how important the long -term cooperation with the workshops is. "The understanding of the people behind the products is crucial. On this day I was able to experience the production live and appreciate the talents of the employees," he said. Participants such as Jennifer Pukall and Mike Kramer from Hensel GmbH were surprised by the professional competence and commitment of the workshop employees. "It is impressive to see how every identity brings together with his job and brings itself to production," she reported.

"The day enriched us all," summarized Susanne Rüenauver, the department head of the workshop in Lennestadt. "We do not look at the deficits, but recognize the individual skills of each individual to adapt the work to people." This positive view can also be felt in the entire organization of the Werthmann workshops, which has been trying to get the professional integration of people with intellectual or psychological restrictions for over 50 years

Combating prejudices and promoting inclusion

The "shift change" is more than a simple job exchange. It is a way to reduce clichés and to promote the dialogue between people with and without disabilities. The annual day of action, which is organized by the Federal Working Group on workshops for disabled people, has the goal of making the world of work of people with disabilities more visible and reducing prejudices. All over Germany, numerous workshops and companies take part in this significant exchange.

The Werthmann workshops encourage companies to open up to new cooperation opportunities. With the endeavor to create more opportunities for direct internships and professions on the general labor market, they show that people with disabilities are an essential part of society. "We hope that this day of action will lead to a regular dialogue between these different working environments," said Andreas Mönig, the overall management of the workshops.

The activities of such actions always make it clear how much potential is to integrate people with disabilities. The workshops not only act as places of work, but also as a bridge builder for diverse employment opportunities. "Make work possible" is the motto that is committed to this initiative and which is advantageous in the mobilization of resources and talents.

A strong sign of openness and diversity in the world of work as well as the willingness to cooperate shape the beliefs of everyone involved. "We will take today's positive experiences and impressions with us and ensure that these discussions will be continued," promised the company representatives and the mayor after the event. For the workshops, this is a step in the right direction to create a more inclusive world of work that offers space for everyone.

If you want to learn more about the background and details of the "Shift change" campaign, you can go to Attendorner-chichten.de read.