What Apprenticeships International Does

Apprenticeships International works with American cities tohelp them develop apprenticeship programs for their young people. Wespecialize in working with cities which have a Sister City in Europe,especially in Germany.

The model for what we do is the apprenticeship exchange program between Austin, Texas, and its Sister City, Koblenz, Germany, which we started in 1994.

The early stages of organizing a new program are always the most difficult, and apprenticeship exchanges are no exception. Sister City relationships vary as greatly as do the cities themselves, so there can be no standard model which can be applied across the board. Each relationship will have its unique characteristics, advantages and problems, so every apprenticeship exchange must be, to some degree, hand-crafted.

Organizing a program requires hundreds of hours of work per month. Many new procedures must be set up in both participating cities, jobs arranged for, parents and students briefed, schools and other organizations made familiar with the program, apprentices selected and prepared for the task ahead of them. Not least, funds must be found to support the apprentices for two years. Then, while the apprentices are abroad, there will be unexpected problems with jobs, families, living conditions, funds, etc. Most of these will be the results of misunderstandings, but they will all be important at the moment and must be handled immediately, whatever the time of the day or night. Apprenticeships International is experienced in all these areas, and it will be their responsibility to handle them, or to help the cities and apprentices work them out.

After the first six months, the level of difficulties can be expected to fall as all parties become more familiar with the program. After a year, the level should have fallen again, and thereafter, only a relatively minimal amount of support work should be necessary.

From the inception of a program, we work with local organizations to create the permanent organization which will administer the program after AI has finished its work. After the first two-year program, most cities will be prepared to continue the program with only a 'maintenance' level of support from us, often entirely on their own.

Here is a general outline of the services AI performs for its clients:

Services

1. Visit client city (multiple). Meet with Sister City Committee, school and city officials, teachers, students, parents, businesses etc. Explain how the apprenticeship exchange program operates. Work out preliminary budget. Get commitments for financial and other support. Begin working with a local person as assistant and eventual administrator of the program.
2. Visit German Sister City. Work out details of exchange with Handwerkskammer and Chamber of Commerce. If necessary, involve Koblenz Chambers. Make arrangements for apprenticeships, housing, transportation, communication, bank accounts, visas, local support and liaison persons, etc.
3. Visit client city (multiple). Confirm all arrangements. Work out final budget.
4. Advise on apprentice selection criteria. Participate in interviewing and selection of apprentices.
5. Help arrange for the apprentices to get appropriate German language training.
6. Help local organizations raise funds to support the program. Speak to companies, foundations, individuals, school officials, city officials, etc. to get their support, financial and otherwise.
7. Brief apprentices and families on the program. Answer questions. Help with travel and other arrangements.
8. If necessary, accompany apprentices to Germany to help them get settled.
9. Troubleshoot. Help work out the multitude of individual problems that are certain to arise with apprentices and families, especially during the first few months.
10. Help arrange for reciprocal exchanges of American apprentices and German interns between participating cities.
11. If necessary, visit apprentices in Germany again.
12. Begin transfer of program administration to local organization.
13. As program becomes established, scale back AI's participation to little or none.