Joel Mwimali (second from left) and Julius Kalume (second from right) were warmly welcomed by the AW Campus team upon arriving in Düsseldorf. Photo: WCH Group
April 15, 2025, is a day Julius Kalume (25) will always remember. After months of waiting, his visa for Germany finally arrived. It was also a special moment for Joel Mwimali (28), who recalls, “It was just an incredible joy.” After a long period of preparation for the language, work environment and culture, everything suddenly moved quickly. On May 29, the two engineers landed in Düsseldorf. It was their first time living and working in another country. Joel now works as an e-bike technician on the island of Sylt for the company myabo. Julius designs photovoltaic systems for a company in Nuremberg. But reaching this point was not easy.
The AW Campus: preparing for tomorrow’s jobs
In 2023, the AW Campus project was founded by Esther Philips with the aim of training young professionals from Kenya for the German job market. The initiative is part of the Düsseldorf-based WCH Group and its subsidiaries Galoria GmbH and Industrieservice Europa (ISE). The concept is sustainable and well thought out. In Nairobi, young people with technical or vocational backgrounds receive targeted training in fields where skilled workers are urgently needed in Germany, such as solar energy, e-bike services and logistics.
“We are not training theorists. We are training hands-on professionals with exactly the skills that companies here need,” says Jürgen Kasel, project manager at ISE. “At the same time, we are offering young people in Kenya a clear and realistic future.”
In the first round of the program, 14 young engineers from Nairobi took part. They completed intensive German language courses (up to level A2), technical skills training and intercultural preparation, supported by the Chamber of Commerce in Nairobi and the Goethe-Institut.
Kenya was not chosen by chance. The country has a strong education system, English is an official language, and many young people are multilingual and highly motivated. WCH had already gained positive experience with Kenyan professionals through earlier projects.
“We are expecting another 11 trained professionals to join us later this year,” says Kasel. And this is just the beginning. In the medium term, ISE plans to expand the program further, focusing on sectors with concrete demand such as photovoltaics, logistics and technical services.
Finding a new routine
Julius and Joel have now settled into their everyday lives in Germany. Julius lives and works in Nuremberg, where he and his colleagues plan solar systems for both private and commercial clients. Joel enjoys the fresh sea air up north and has adapted well, even though the weather is very different from what he is used to.
“It’s cold on the North Sea and it rains a lot,” he says with a laugh. That is definitely not like Kenya. But he enjoys his work. “I always dreamed of working in a highly developed country like Germany.” Both men emphasize how welcome they feel, not only at the WCH Group but also in their local teams.
A partnership with vision
For Julius and Joel, moving to Germany was a bold step into the unknown. For the companies involved, it is part of a broader strategy to address the skilled labor shortage, while also driving innovation and exploring new ways of working together. But this project is about more than just economics.
It is also a story about people meeting and learning from each other. About openness, respect and the belief that skills, motivation and cultural diversity can transcend borders. The two engineers bring valuable expertise and curiosity. And they are entering a working world that is itself changing, toward more sustainability, global responsibility and new ideas.
“Working in a globally sustainable field is especially important to me,” says Joel. “It allows me to grow personally and to give something back — to my team, to the project, to my country and to WCH.”
This sentence reflects more than personal gratitude. It speaks to something deeper: the idea that work can be more than just a way to earn a living. It can create connections across continents. And true partnership succeeds when both sides are ready to contribute and willing to learn.
