InteSA: Philister Awuor Owino: “I Want to Be a Bridge”
2026-07-27 Whether at youth centers, as street workers, or in women’s support services: Through the part-time program “Integration in Social Work” (InteSA), the Leuphana Professional School supports foreign professionals on their path to the German job market. The project helps social workers and social educators obtain state certification. The 26-year-old social worker from Kenya is one of them.
Development work, hospitals, children’s homes: Philister Awuor Owino gained a wealth of practical experience even while pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Nairobi. She also learned German on the side: “After I graduated, I came to Germany as an au pair. First I worked in Freiburg, then in Hamburg,” she says. Contrary to her plans, she did not return to Kenya: “I wanted to learn the language even better, so I completed a voluntary social year at a facility for people with disabilities,” she recalls.
There, she worked closely with a social worker. The social worker encouraged the graduate to pursue her career in Germany: Since 2024, Philister Awuor Owino has therefore been participating in the InteSA program at Leuphana Professional School. “For me, InteSA is a door-opener. I can work in my profession and at the same time learn everything I need to know about the German social and legal systems,” she explains.
Today, as part of her recognition year, Philister Awuor Owino works at Ausbildung und Arbeit plus GmbH in the field of vocational preparatory education (BvB). There, she supports young people between the ages of 16 and 25 on their path to vocational training and careers. She conducts initial social-educational interviews, helps fill out applications, and provides guidance on everyday work life. “It’s a very rewarding job. I see that the young people here are getting real support for their future,” she says.
After completing the InteSA program, Philister Awuor Owino would like to stay with her current employer for the time being and then pursue further training. In the long term, she can imagine working with women and people with a migration background. “I want to be a bridge,” she explains.
“With this program, we can both reduce skill gaps in the labor market and help people find employment in Germany that matches their qualifications,” explains project coordinator Sami Qaiser. “This allows us to truly support the people, the professional field, and the region.”
Enrollment in the free program is open on a rolling basis until early August of this year. Spots are still available for all continuing education courses offered as part of “Integration in Social Work.”
The program is part of the “Profi Plus” funding initiative and is supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space. The German-language continuing education courses are primarily held in person on weekends on the Leuphana campus.
Those interested can contact the project coordinators directly to schedule a personal consultation or to register: Sami Qaiser, Tel. 04131.677-2939, Email: intesa@leuphana.de.