My name is Islam. I’m 24 years old and I come from Beni Suef, a city around 100 kilometres south of Cairo. Even when I was at school, I had the feeling that education isn’t valued enough. I thought about becoming a teacher when I was older. I wanted to teach children better than I had been taught myself.

So I went on to study German at Minia University. The language interested me – I find that you can used it to express ideas particularly clearly. I also took additional lessons at the Goethe-Institut. After graduating, I moved to Cairo and began to apply for positions that matched my education and goals. But I always got rejected, or I didn't get any reply at all. At first I thought this was due to my lack of professional experience. A training course at the Egyptian-German Center for Jobs, Migration and Reintegration (EGC) revealed to me that there was another reason.

A job that's right for me

In May 2021 I found a job as a German teacher at the “Deutsche Ecke” (German Corner), a private educational centre. This goes well with my career goals and is an ideal way for me to get started. I’m happy to have finally found the right path. I have a job that fulfils me and I’m preparing for my master's degree. I’m also taking part in a course in German as a foreign language and special translation, which the University of Leipzig is offering in cooperation with Ain Shams University.

Studying German has helped me to find my vocation. My work comes with a lot of responsibility. After their parents, a teacher is the most important person in a child’s life. We help pupils to develop their personalities and their personal skills. I’m pleased that my work can make an impact.

As of: 10/2021