Team works! connects young experts: a visit to Filbo and Matthew in the German Eifel region

The Team works! programme demonstrates how international expert exchanges can lead to lasting partnerships. Matthew Okwii, a young electrician from Moroto, Uganda, completed a six-week internship at the STREIF prefabricated house group in Weinsheim – a direct result of the successful collaboration with his German colleague Filbo Frensch, who spent three weeks at St. Kizito Hospital in Uganda with Team works! last year.

Matthew and Filbo stand next to each other in front of a large electrical box and smile at the camera.
Matthew and Filbo became friends through Team works!.

"We immediately noticed that we worked well together. It is all the better that Matthew got the chance to visit us through Team works!,“ says Filbo. For him, it was clear that such encounters bring more than just professional knowledge. ”It is not just about the work. It's about getting to know each other and learning from each other. And getting to know how a new team works," he reports.

Insights into modern prefabricated house production

During the visit to STREIF GmbH, Matthew and Filbo gave a tour of the production halls and provided insights into the modern production of prefabricated houses. The two electricians gave a particularly detailed presentation of their area of work, as they are responsible for all the electrical equipment in the prefabricated houses as part of FHT Fertig-Haustechnik GmbH, a partner of STREIF. Matthew presented the various work steps and explained the methods and technologies he had learned about during his internship – from the local method of cable laying to the latest smart home technology.

”It is not just about the work. It's about getting to know each other and learning from each other." - Filbo

  • The two experts guide the visitors through the production halls. You can see the group walking through the corridors where the wood is cut.
    During the tour of the factory halls, Matthew and Filbo explained the work steps in detail.
  • Filbo is standing with Anton Voronin in one of the production halls.
    From materials to the finished house – Filbo explains the details of interior construction here.
  • A view inside a production hall where several house walls, each fitted with pre-installed windows and electrical components, are lined up.
    The individual components are assembled in the production halls.
  • The two experts guide the visitors through the production halls. You can see the group walking through the corridors where the wood is cut.
    During the tour of the factory halls, Matthew and Filbo explained the work steps in detail.
  • Filbo is standing with Anton Voronin in one of the production halls.
    From materials to the finished house – Filbo explains the details of interior construction here.
  • A view inside a production hall where several house walls, each fitted with pre-installed windows and electrical components, are lined up.
    The individual components are assembled in the production halls.

An opportunity for businesses

The feedback on the Team Works! programme from STREIF employees has been overwhelmingly positive. Elke Weber-Haepp, the company's HR manager, emphasised how smoothly everything went: "The organization and coordination by the AGYO and SES was fantastic. We had hardly any extra work and are very happy to be able to contribute to international exchange as a company and to offer Matthew the opportunity to gain insights into the work processes in our company. FHT Managing Director Sebastian Zunk was also enthusiastic about the collaboration: “Matthew integrated really well, the collaboration was excellent, and he enriched our team.” Anton Voronin, who is responsible for supporting young African experts at SES, emphasised the human dimension of the programme: “It's great to see that Team works! can lead to friendships and that one internship can lead to another.”

Matthew is standing next to a large electrical box and checking the voltage with a measuring device.
Matthew vividly explained the differences in electrical installations between Uganda and Germany.

New perspectives, more cooperation

While Filbo learned from the “calmness and professionalism with which colleagues on site work even in crisis situations such as power outages” in Uganda, he was also able to successfully pass on his knowledge of electrical engineering, particularly in carrying out electrical checks and troubleshooting. Matthew gained many insights into local production methods and quality standards, while the STREIF GmbH team benefited from his experience with resource-saving working methods and problem-solving approaches. “I learned a lot about German standards. And about how important good teamwork is,” he says.

Exchange that lasts

The successful example of STREIF GmbH shows how profitable international expert exchanges can be for all involved. An internship not only strengthens the professional skills of the participating experts, but also enriches the company's own corporate culture and promotes intercultural understanding. “Team works! is a great opportunity to exchange ideas and get to know your profession in a new way,” says Filbo. His wish: more companies to participate.

About "Team works!"

Matthew's six-week internship at STREIF GmbH was fully funded by the AGYO's Team works! programme and organised in collaboration with the Senior Expert Service (SES), meaning that the company incurred no additional costs. This support enables German companies to participate in international exchange programmes with ease.

 

Further information:

Interview with Filbo about his time with Team works!

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