DAMOS
Coming to Germany for qualification

18-year-old Alberto Gámez from Venezuela is at the start of his working life but already knows that he wants his career to take him to Germany. He told us what he likes about the working world in Germany and how the programme “Dual education mobility South America” (DAMOS) supported him on his journey to Germany.

By Marina Schutze

Alberto, would you like to briefly introduce yourself?

My name is Alberto Gámez, I am 18 years old and I am from Venezuela. I studied at the Esperanza School for nine years until 2022. This is a PASCH/FIT school in Venezuela.

How did you find out about DAMOS?

In 2022, I saw a post on the Instagram channel “PASCH-Andina”. It was about a language course with a focus on vocational German, so it was designed to prepare you for working life in Germany. I was immediately interested, applied successfully and attended both modules, A2 and B1, of the language course. I then completed the B1 Goethe certificate and passed the examination.

Which DAMOS projects did you participate in?

I received the scholarship “Deutsch plus Beruf” the following year. This scholarship includes a two-week German course in Germany, at the Goethe-Institut in Schwäbisch Hall, and a week when you can visit German companies in the Heilbronn region. I travelled to Germany with this scholarship and completed a B2 German course which covered vocational topics. I also visited various companies in the region, including Audi. In my free time, I was able to visit other cities with other scholarship holders too, such as Heidelberg and Stuttgart. That was an amazing experience!

And did you like Germany?

Yes, of course! I immediately liked everything: the people I met there, the Germans I spoke to. Everyone was really nice and friendly. It was a wonderful experience. It was my first time visiting Germany. The previous PASCH projects and services always took place online due to the pandemic.

Who did you meet whilst you were there?

Firstly, I met other scholarship holders from Latin America, from Brazil, Argentina and Mexico. I also had a lot of contact with people from Europe, Asia and Africa. Some of these people became good friends of mine.

During which stages did you really need support from DAMOS?

During the journey for “Deutsch plus Beruf”, Diego Santana de Freitas, an employee at the Goethe-Institut in Porto Alegre and a DAMOS project assistant, was particularly helpful. At that time, I was still a minor and did not know how to apply for travel documents in my country. The Goethe-Institut also provided flight tickets, insurance and all the documents which were required. Diego was always there when I had questions. This support was very helpful for me. I felt safe and well looked after.

What plans do you have for the future that you wish to achieve with help from DAMOS?

I would like to work or study in Germany. The experience with “Deutsch plus Beruf” helped me to organise these plans. It also helped me to realise that I need to prepare for the future. In this regard, travelling to Germany was a big step for me and my self-development.

What exactly do you find interesting about the sector you want to work in?

I am particularly interested in computer science. Since childhood, I have been fascinated by computers... playing on them, working on them or solving problems. That was my huge passion. Two or three years ago, I realised that the sector is also interesting and wanted to learn more about it. I find it great that you are never done learning in IT. There is always something new. The more I learn, the more there is to learn! That is very motivating and is a good fit with my life philosophy. Therefore, I can imagine enjoying working in the IT sector.

What do you think makes Germany such an appealing place to work?

I started studying at a PASCH school when I was seven years old so I have been pretty heavily influenced by German culture since my childhood. After a certain period of time, I noticed that there are unique aspects of working in Germany that I personally like. For example, when I was in Germany, I saw how important teamwork is. You work better and more efficiently in a team than you can alone and you can achieve more goals when working with others. I think that, unlike in other countries, I would have the opportunity to develop professionally and as a person in Germany. I understand that culture and society are different in Latin America but I firmly believe that Germany is a great destination for people from other countries who want to study or work.


The programme “Dual education mobility South America” (DAMOS) is aimed at PASCH/FIT schools in South America. The partner school initiative “Schools: partners of the future” (PASCH) was created by the Federal Foreign Office and represents schools that place particular value on German. FIT schools are a special type of PASCH schools which receive support from the Goethe-Institut. Since 2021, DAMOS has been providing school pupils there with a wide range of services and qualified support in preparation for a dual education in Germany, for example language training or advice sessions. The offer is particularly aimed at pupils who are interested in trades, technical or commercial fields.