Close to people | Stories from Bethel
From the workshop to the primary labour market
Being a regular employee at a company - a long-cherished dream has come true for Suzan Dündar. Since last year, the 28-year-old has been one of 180 employees at the Herford-based logistics company LOEWE. Due to her epilepsy, a job in the primary labour market was not an option for her for a long time. She came into contact with her current employer through a special programme run by Bethel's workshops for people with disabilities and has now made the step into normal employment.
A so-called integrated workplace was the door opener for Suzan Dündar. In these jobs, people from Bethel work in companies on the general labour market instead of in a workshop. In organisational terms, they remain employed and insured by the workshop, but the jobs are located in the local companies. The aim is to realise inclusion and participation in working life, as it is important to many people to work in a "real" company. Ideally, these company-integrated jobs are a stepping stone to the primary labour market for the employees.
A boost for self-confidence
It was the same for Suzan Dündar. "In the past, such a step would have been completely unthinkable for me," she says today, looking back. She was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 14. After finishing school and completing a voluntary year of social work, the young woman began working in Bethel's workshops. "Back then, I was constantly afraid of going out and having a seizure on the way," she reports, "but the Bethel staff kept telling me that I could actually do more than just work in a workshop." Eventually, Suzan Dündar moved to an integrated workplace at LOEWE and came into contact with the company for the first time.
"You're challenged more than before, but it's a nice feeling."
"I started out in a working group. But because of my good performance, I was soon given more responsibility in an individual position. That gave me a lot of self-confidence," she recalls. Today, her tasks include picking, labelling and packing goods. "I'm one of the best at scanning items," she says proudly. The work itself has hardly changed since she was hired - but her self-perception as a fully-fledged employee has. "You're challenged more than before," says Suzan Dündar, "but that's a nice feeling."
It is particularly important to her that her epilepsy no longer plays a role in her employment. "I am simply accepted for who I am. I do have seizures from time to time - but they don't last very long and I can carry on working afterwards without any problems." Her colleagues have become well accustomed to these situations, emphasises Suzan Dündar. "And I know that help is always on hand if I do need it."
Text: Marten Siegmann | Photo: Christian Weische
This story simply told
Suzan Dündar has epilepsy. This is why she used to work in a workshop for people with disabilities. She wanted to try something new. There was a special project outside the workshop. She was able to work in a company there. It worked so well that the company has now employed Suzan Dündar.
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About the offer
proWerk
Company-integrated workplaces
Am Bahnhof 6
33602 Bielefeld
Offer & services
The company-integrated jobs are a special offer for people with disabilities and mental impairments who are interested and able to work in jobs on the general labour market in normal companies with colleagues without disabilities.
