The Chamber of Crafts for Upper Franconia would like to create a continuous, reliable partnership with the regular implementation or rather the annual offer to young people to participate in the apprenticeship exchange. On this basis, a safe environment for travel and the personal incentive to participate should be created for the young people. During their educational visit apprentices are supposed to -acquire professional skills in an international environment -improve their knowledge about neighboring France -get to know French trade and culture -complete an one-week internship with a French crafts business -increase their willingness to work abroad. The main focus of the Chamber of Crafts for Upper Franconia lies in strengthening its European profile and increasing the quality of its educational offer. The stay abroad is intended to get to know the professional world in foreign countries and thereby gain valuable experience for later professional activity A total of 20 apprentices took part in 2019: • 2 carpenters • 2 bricklayers • 3 automotive mechatronics technicians • 1 butcher • 2 bakers • 3 confectioners • 1 concrete worker • 1 painter • 2 electronics technicians • 1 hairdresser • 1 bakery saleswoman • 1 vehicle painter
Our completed project was a a sixteen-day educational trip to Carcassonne, Aude (France) aimed at apprentices from Upper Franconia. The Chamber of Crafts for Upper Franconia offers the opportunity of this apprentice exchange program in addition to its vocational training. Beside our effort to live the coexistence of the two neighboring European countries with their economic connections, the clear approach in the craft through the internships is also a major concern of our Chamber of Crafts. Our partnership to the Chamber of Crafts Carcassonne in the region of Aude exists since 1962 and is used at our management level as well as at other levels in the informative exchange. Learning about vocational training and craft skills in France is also an important part of the exchange. Our contact person, Mr. Stephan Löffler, is also actively involved in the committee of the Bayreuth-Annecy town twinning. The Franco-German idea is lived intensively in our chamber and forms the basis of our project.