In 2015, as many people fled to Germany, Zarah Bruhn, founder of Socialbee, and Head of Public Relations Sarah Schilberg joyfully observed the welcoming culture in the country. At the same time, they also realized that for many, what comes next is even more important. This is where Socialbee's work begins.
Integration works best through a job and good language skills, as Sarah Schilberg explains. To promote this, Zarah Bruhn founded Socialbee in 2016. The temporary employment agency has evolved into a digital job search platform. Due to uncertainties from companies and the lack of knowledge about the job market, language barriers, or other issues faced by job seekers, a good match is difficult to achieve without support, according to Schilberg.
Residence permits, work permits, language skills, bureaucratic processes, qualification proof, and much more are hurdles that both job seekers and companies often cannot overcome alone. The non-profit company Social also provides support in these areas.
So far, the 'social bees' have helped 1800 people with refugee or migration experiences find a job. Behind this number are individuals who want to work hard, belong, and participate in society, emphasizes Schilberg.
However, Zarah Bruhn and her team want more. Socialbee collaborates with politicians and institutions like job centers. But this is not enough, believes Head of PR Sarah Schilberg. In the social sector, cuts in funding for Socialbee and other non-profit organizations are a concern.
This commitment is particularly important in times of skilled labor shortages. Schilberg points out that many refugee women are also taking advantage of the free language courses offered by Socialbee and are looking for jobs. Often, these women are single parents or care for relatives. They are a marginalized group within a marginalized group, as Schilberg notes. Through Socialbee's digital offerings, they have no time pressure and can pursue their training and language courses independently of location.
