“I have never left Guatemala City, much less my country,” said Billy, one of the participants. “My family is very excited because I will be the first of us to travel abroad.”
Safe path
Your three-month opportunity is part of a pilot project designed to create safe and regular labor migration pathways, supported by the Government of Guatemala, the German Embassy in Guatemala, the Institute for Technical Training and Productivity and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The journey is guided by a sense of purpose formed by resilience, determination and years of effort. In Germany, that purpose will translate into skills, technical knowledge, and a commitment to supporting your loved ones in your home country.
Months of training came together in a moment at the gate, where determination outweighed nerves.
Workers will train and work as parcel distributors, gaining valuable skills, supporting their families and forging new connections abroad.
After months of preparation, the moment seems surreal and hard-won, the result of months of study, evaluation and anticipation.
Ricardo, a 36-year-old Mayan from Alta Verapaz, a region in northern Guatemala known for its rich coffee production, used to get up at 1 a.m. to travel to Guatemala City for training sessions organized as part of the pilot project.
He hopes this new chapter can help him build a more stable future at home.
Oscar, an auto mechanic, along with Douglas and John, said they are embarking on the journey to give their children a safer, brighter future.
“When I got the news, I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I had applied for the program a year before and had almost lost hope. Then, suddenly, I got the call. I’m going with pride, I want to show what Guatemalans are made of.”
For several participants, a simple social media post announcing the opportunity was the first step toward a possibility they had never imagined.
Technical training in automotive systems and safety prepared the men for future challenges, strengthening their skills long before they boarded the plane.
In the months before their departure, the group attended courses to learn skills they said would stay with them for a lifetime: studying engines, maintenance systems and the correct names for car parts.
The group also attended German classes organized by IOM, intercultural sessions and virtual visits to their future workplace.
What they practice abroad will translate home, strengthening their communities, inspiring others and creating small changes across borders.
New opportunities abroad for young talents from Guatemala
For John, the excitement was as much about discovery as it was about professional growth.
“It’s not just about the salary. It’s about something deeper: discovering another country, meeting new people, understanding how they live, their food, their culture, their way of celebrating. In the end, it’s not about what you earn, but what stays with you long after you leave.”
As the training progressed, another type of growth took shape. The ten men grew closer through group chats where they shared messages, jokes, questions and small details about their lives.
At the airport, families wave and shout words of encouragement as the group walks toward the boarding gate.
Before going to the departure hall, Oscar ends a video call with his family.
“Am I worried about what’s coming? No, but I’m sure excited,” he said.