Vocational Assistance: BRAFO - The National Career Counseling Program Enables Trainees to Join the Workforce
BRAFO Program Empowers Students in Saxony-Anhalt to Make Informed Career Choices
The "BRAFO - Career Choice Right from the Start Early Orientation" program, a joint initiative in Saxony-Anhalt, is making strides in helping students, including those with special needs, to make informed career decisions early on.
The program, implemented across secondary, comprehensive, and special schools in the region, focuses on early career orientation to support youths in identifying suitable occupations. It provides practical exposure and guidance, with a tailored approach for students with special needs, considering their individual abilities and challenges.
BRAFO offers a variety of activities, including workshop days, company visits, and internships, to give students a realistic insight into potential careers. The program encourages hands-on experience, enabling students to handle tools like a saw or a hammer from day one.
The program is part of a funded ecosystem that benefits from federal and regional support, including the European Social Fund, ensuring sufficient resources for inclusive and effective career counseling and preparation activities.
The success of the program has not gone unnoticed. Education Minister Jan Riedel and Labor Minister Petra Grimm-Benne have both praised BRAFO for its successful career guidance and practical relevance in businesses. Markus Behrens, chairman of the management board of the BA regional directorate Saxony-Anhalt-Thuringia, also supports the program's success.
Over 2,000 local businesses and companies support BRAFO through internship offers and company visits, opening doors for businesses that show more openness towards students with disabilities.
The BRAFO program website (www.brafo.sachsen-anhalt.de) provides insights into over 12 different career fields, ranging from crafts and technology to IT and creative industries. The program caters to small groups, ensuring individual support and direct feedback.
In the 2023/24 school year, 72 special schools also participated in the program. BRAFO staff, teachers, school companions, and trainers work together to ensure the success of the program. The program adapts its offerings to learning or physical impairments, with careful preparation for barrier-free access, transportation accompaniment, communication aids, or even a service dog.
Each year, BRAFO supports approximately 11,000 students in Saxony-Anhalt, emphasizing the importance of timely, individual, and practical career guidance for students with special needs.
- The BRAFO program, in addition to early career orientation, offers education-and-self-development opportunities through skills-training sessions and career-development workshops, aiming to equip students with the necessary abilities for their job-search endeavors.
- The BRAFO program's economic and social policy extends beyond career guidance, as it fosters partnerships with over 2,000 local businesses and companies, offering internships and company visits, thereby promoting inclusion and employment opportunities for students with special needs.
