Achievements

Joinery apprentice Jana Stolz among the top five in state competition

The competition DIE GUTE FORM organized by the Rhineland-Palatinate carpentry guild association annually awards prizes to the best journeyman's pieces from the state's carpentry and joinery guilds. This year, a total of 18 participants were honored at an award ceremony held at the Eifel Museum in Mayen. Each district guild selects two apprentices from all of the entries to take part in the competition. Our apprentice Ms. Jana Stolz was selected by the Bitburg carpentry guild to take part in the competition with her journeyman's piece, a carving box. Ms. Stolz achieved fourth place in the competition. The jury also awarded her a special commendation and a cash prize.

Best exams in 2023

92 trainees from the Eifel district of Bitburg-Prüm were promoted to journeyman status by the Mosel-Eifel-Hunsrück Region (MEHR) district trades association. There were a total of 258 new skilled workers from the Eifel district, the Vulkaneifel district and the Bernkastel-Wittlich district, and among them were as many as 44 top performers who achieved an overall grade of at least "good". One of the best examinees in 2023 is our former apprentice Elena Klassen, who passed her final examination at the HWK Trier this summer. As a training company, the Euro-BBW was also recognized for this achievement and received a corresponding certificate.

Euro-BBW builds new information boards

Since the information boards in Bitburg‘s Königswäldchen were getting on in years, our participants of the pre-vocational training in the field of wood and their trainer Patrick Reis have developed a new, weather-resistant model for these boards. The model is now equipped with a weather protection and a screen with carved characteristic features of the respective tree (leaf and fruit). Behind the aperture, one can find the scientific and German name of the tree, as well as a QR code that takes one to the Landesforst website for more information about the tree.

The Euro-BBW will take over the sponsorship for the information boards and maintain them, so that the walkers in the Königswäldchen will enjoy the boards for a long time to come.

100% success and best exam 2022 in the carpentry trade

Despite all the difficulties that the graduating class of 2022 had to cope with due to the Corona pandemic, ALL those who took the final exam have passed their exams. And not only that: Our former apprentice Simon Barzen (carpenter) is even one of the best examinees of the journeyman's examination 2022 of the carpenter's guild Westeifel.

Climate adaptation project approved

Under the funding guideline "Climate adaptation in social institutions" of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), the Euro-BBW was approved for a project to install several new cisterns and solar sails on its premises.

The summers of recent years have been characterized by both heavy rainfall events and periods of heat. On the one hand, this led to us suffering water damage and, on the other, to irrigate our 7-hectare outdoor grounds with thousands of cubic meters of tap water. By building new cisterns and using the roofs of our educational buildings, we now want to collect rainwater and use it to irrigate the outdoor areas. In addition, the planned water storage volume will serve as a buffer in the event of renewed heavy rainfall events, thus preventing damage from flooding.

Sun sails are to be installed so that great heat and sunlight do not pose a health risk to our gardening and landscaping trainees, but so that we still have an outdoor training area in summer for consistent practice of training content. This will allow the area to be used all year round.

This project is funded by the BMU (http://www.bmu.bund.de/themen/klima-energie/klimaschutz/anpassung-an-den-klimawandel/) through the funding program "Climate adaptation in social institutions" (https://www.z-u-g.org/aufgaben/klimaanpassung-in-sozialen-einrichtungen).

Former apprentice receives commendation in the competition "Die GUTE FORM 2021"

Our former apprentice Mohamed Sauber, who has completed his final examination as a carpenter in the summer of 2021, was invited to the competition "Die GUTE FORM 2021" in Mainz with his journeyman's piece and received a commendation from the Landesinnungsverband des Tischlerhandwerks for his original standing and sitting workstation.

In his jury text, Johannes Niestrath (dds) describes Mohamed Sauber's journeyman piece as follows: "The idea of the home office has been in the air since Corona: here in a humorous implementation as a material block with storage function and integrated seat. The transformation of the closed block into a standing and sitting workstation with lateral tray pull-out works in use. The division of the front into door and drawer with complementary handles is cleverly solved and also takes into account the removal of the chair. Black MDF and oak wood make an aesthetic marriage."

IHK Trier honors its best examinees in 2021 

In 2021, former trainees of the Euro-BBW are again among the best in their exams at the IHK Trier: Tim Fuhs (office management assistant) and Dominik Sommerfeld (information technology specialist) each completed their exams with the highest number of points in their branch of training.

Euro-BBW certified as European School

The Ministry of Education of Rhineland-Palatinate has certified the vocational school of the European Vocational Training Center as a European School of Rhineland-Palatinate.

European schools promote Europe-oriented intercultural competence by, for example, teaching foreign languages, integrating European topics into the classroom, project-oriented school partnerships or vocational internships in other European countries, and by professionalizing teaching staff in areas relevant to Europe. In this way, European schools contribute to the cosmopolitan education of young people and to the further integration of Europe - which is more important today than ever before.

Application for ERASMUS accreditation approved

The National Agency Education for Europe at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training has approved our application in the program ERASMUS accreditation in the field of vocational education and training!

The accreditation of the Euro-BBW can be seen as a successor of the Mobility Charter. Accreditation does not provide financial grants. Rather, it is about promoting Erasmus+ mobilities in an uncomplicated and long-term manner, which for us means simplified access to funding opportunities and a longer-term perspective and planning security.

Another goal of Erasmus+ accreditation is to broaden the Erasmus community and make it more inclusive, so that stays abroad are realistic for all learners and teachers in vocational education and training.

Best Examinees 2020 at the Euro-BBW

Despite the Corona pandemic, two former Euro-BBW trainees have achieved excellent results in their examinations at the Trier Chamber of Industry and Commerce. The trainees are Philipp Derse (information technology assistant) and Mirko Enkrott (media designer for digital and print media), who both graduated with the highest number of points in their respective fields of training.

One hundred percent success in 2020

All trainees who sat for their final exams in 2020 passed. And this despite the fact that they had to switch from face-to-face to home learning at short notice in mid-March 2020, cope with the stressful and uncertain situation due to the Corona pandemic, and prepare for their exams to boot.

The Graffiti Project

A survey of the participants for suggestions on how to spend their free time revealed that they would like to spice up the bistro in the leisure centre. One idea was to use art to give a wall of the bistro a new shine. At that time, the "UrbanArt Biennale" was taking place at the World Cultural Heritage Site at Völklinger Hütte, which gave an overview of the UrbanArt scene around the world. After visiting this exhibition, it was clear that this was exactly the kind of art they wanted to apply to the wall in the bistro.

However, before the first practical work started in the project, a staff member of the Bitburg police inspection visited our young people and educated them on the topic of illegal graffiti and preventive measures and distributed flyers. Afterwards, the head of the Bitburg police station, Christian Hamm, commissioned the group to decorate a wall of the police station in Bitburg.

Motivated by both art assignments, the four participants Nico H., Lisa-Marie K., Aaron P. and Ilka S. met once a week with the residential group supervisor Gürkay Kayacan to learn the art of graffiti step by step: the colour theory according to Itten, the stencil technique, a workshop on the general handling of the spray can - conducted by two artists from CiterArt - and finally the technique of graffiti freehanding.

The artwork on the chosen theme of "Animals and Nature" in the bistro has already been completed, but due to the Corona pandemic it could not yet be officially inaugurated, and the practical design of the wall of the Bitburg police station could unfortunately not be tackled either.

The Minister President of Rhineland-Palatinate, Malu Dreyer, has financially supported the graffiti project with a generous donation.

"Fresh-IT-up" - A project to revive Computers

"Fresh-IT-up" is a co-operation project between Alibi Eifelservice gGmbH and the European Vocational Training Centre. The aim of Fresh-IT-up is to have disused computers reconditioned by IT specialists from the Euro-BBW and then to sell these devices cheaply to people with smaller budgets in the second-hand department store of Alibi. Apart from extending the life cycle of computers, the project offers many other advantages: The IT apprentices can get a taste of working in a company and do something for a good purpose at the same time. By reusing old computers, there is no need to mine valuable raw materials for new equipment. The recycling of old electrical equipment helps to avoid electronic waste, which is unfortunately also exported illegally in large quantities to countries outside the EU. Finally, the sale of cheap, used computers gives many people the opportunity to participate in the digital world, which they would otherwise not have been able to afford financially.

Euro-BBW becomes e-mobile!

As a further step in the fight against air pollution and climate change, the Euro-BBW has purchased an electric vehicle for the employees of the facility management department. With it, the rather short „business trips“ can now be covered silently and, above all, without emissions. The changeover to e-mobility went smoothly, as the colleagues can recharge the new company car very conveniently at the socket in the garage or at the usual charging stations.

Minister for the Environment Höfken visits the Euro-BBW

Ulrike Höfken, Minister for the Environment, Energy, Food and Forestry of Rhineland-Palatinate, visited the Euro-BBW, one of the first (school catering) institutions to use EIFEL products. In addition, the educational concept of the house conveys the importance of sustainability and environmental protection. "Food is less and less appreciated, it is wasted and little is paid for it", said Höfken. It is her concern that food is given a higher status again and that especially children and young people learn how important a healthy diet is.

Masterly performance of a former Apprentice

"Train your future" is the motto of the European Vocational Training Centre - and this is exactly what our former apprentice Matthias Krier took to heart and completed his master craftsman's diploma in carpentry. After completing his training at the Euro-BBW, Matthias Krier first worked in a medium-sized joinery that produces high-end furniture. After three years, he moved to another carpentry company that not only makes furniture, but also windows and doors, wooden floors, stairs, etc. After several years of working there, Mr. Krier had the idea to register with the Chamber of Crafts in Trier for the master course for carpenters. This course lasted a good 1.5 years and could be attended on Saturdays and one or two weekdays in the evening. During this time he met a colleague at the master school who persuaded him to apply for a job in his company in Luxembourg - where Mr. Krier has been working for over 2 years now and can make full use of his good PC and CNC skills. In February 2019, Mr. Krier successfully completed his master's examination in carpentry.

Environmental actions at the Tea and Eifel Shop

In order to avoid disposable packaging, the Tea and Eifel Shop of the Euro-BBW rewarded customers with their own mug as early as December 2018 and reduced the price of drinks-to-go for them.  In addition, a loyalty stamp card was introduced, making it even more worthwhile for these customers to regularly bring their own cup. Since June 2019, the Tea and Eifel Shop has also been registered with the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of the Environment as a provider of the "BecherBonus". This campaign also aims to avoid waste by offering a discount on the use of returnable cups.

DRK Health Day in Bitburg

Together with the DRK-Kreisverband Bitburg-Prüm e.V., the European Vocational Training Centre organised a Health Day for all employees with a varied programme of courses and information on the topics of health, sport and well-being. These included, for example, an introduction to running, fitness Courses and other Courses to take part, but also mobile Shiatsu, a course on mindfulness and dealing with stress or a lung function test and posture diagnostics.

Erasmus+ VET mobility charter

For the organization and realization of high-quality stays abroad within the programme Erasmus+, The National Agency at the Federal Institute for Vocational Training awarded the European Vocational Training Centre the „VET mobility charter“ in September 2018. By this, the Euro-BBW was not only appreciated for its experience in realizing mobility projects, but will also be supported in the strategic development of its international work. Additionally, the VET mobility charter simplifies the application of Erasmus+ mobility projects in the batches of applications 2019 and 2020. 

New microsites for Bistro “Finesse” and Tea and Eifel Shop

All information about our Bistro „Finesse“ was summarized in an own website. At bistro.euro-bbw.de you can find all offers of our Bistro – not only meals but also current events such as the jazz nights organized by Jazz-Initiative Eifel. 

You can find all information about the Tea and Eifel Shop of the Euro-BBW, like e.g. the range of products, offered meals and current events at teeladen.euro-bbw.de, in German, English and also in French language.

Eifel honey from Euro-BBW

Already in 2013, several hives have been installed within the framework of a “bee project” on the big site of the Euro-BBW and the bees could feed pollen from wild flowers in the direct vicinity. In 2015, we had our first mixed-flower honey. This honey was now certified and is allowed to bear the quality label EIFEL (see www.regionalmarke-eifel.de/eifel-honig.htm).

Red Cross Days in Bitburg

In 2017, the annual meeting of Red Cross members of Rhineland-Palatinate took place at the European Vocational Training Centre for the first time. 13 teams of voluntary Red Cross members of different fields (such as emergency service, water safety, social work and Youth Red Cross) took part and competed at 15 stations on the site of the Euro-BBW and in the city of Bitburg in order to identify the „state winner of Rhineland-Palatinate“.

Again top examinees at the Euro-BBW

Also in 2016, three graduates of the Euro-BBW passed their exams in summer at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Trier with the mark „very good/excellent“or the highest score in their vocation and were honoured as top examinees of the year 2016: Annika Claßen (office worker), Christopher Kempf (office clerk) and Linda Ünsal (saleswoman). The Euro-BBW is very glad about these excellent results and about the fact that these trainees have laid the foundations for a successful professional career.

New Erasmus+ mobility project

„BI2K (Bitburg to UK)“ is the name of the new exchange project within the Erasmus+ programme which was granted to the Euro-BBW by the National Agency in 2016 – with a top rating of 95 out of 100 points! This project is about job shadowing of our employees in English institutions. Until 2017, a total of four representatives of Euro-BBW’s educational staff travels to England for work experiences and job shadowing. Hosting institutions are the Isle of Wight College (Newport/Isle of Wight), the Askham Bryan College (North Yorkshire) and the Newton Rigg College (Penrith/Cumbria), which all enjoy an outstanding reputation concerning quality of training. 

100% Green energy in the Euro-BBW

Our electricity supplier MVV in Mannheim confirms that 100 % of the electricity delivered to the Euro-BBW originates from Scandinavian hydropower plants and is certified by green energy certificates. Also the external resident groups of the Euro-BBW are supplied with green energy, according to the contracts of our provider „Lichtblick“. In conjunction with our cogeneration unit we could significantly optimize the external supply of electricity with regard to ecological aspects.

Verdun project awarded

In February 2016, students of Euro-BBW's vocational school and of the vocational school Lycée Les Marcs d’Or in Dijon met each other in Verdun on the occasion of the commemoration of the battle of Verdun which took place 100 years ago and was one of the most bloody military conflicts in history. The main focus was on discussing about history and getting to know each other. The result of this project was a video clip with the title „Ensemble“ which was taken in Dijon, in Bitburg and in Verdun. Our French partner school registered this film in the French contest EUSTORY. Out of 23 contributions the jury selected this video clip as one of two especially successful projects. You can find the video on our YouTube channel.

Supplement: At the beginning of 2018, the Euro-BBW received a letter by Mrs Heike Raab, Representative of Rhineland-Palatinate for Federal and European Affairs, who expressed her appreciation for the video clip „Ensemble“ and announced a financial support.

Börsen-DAXe of the Euro-BBW were awarded in Trier

In February 2016 the most successful regional playgroups of the 33th „stock exchange business game“ by the savings banks met in Trier for a common awards ceremony. This included also the group „Börsen-DAXe“ of the European Vocational Training Centre who achieved second place within the catchment area of the regional savings bank of Bitburg-Prüm. By the way, a total of 400 (!) regional playgroups took part in the stock exchange business game.

Successful trainees of the Euro-BBW

The graduation year 2015 was particularly successful in the Euro-BBW. With a total of 71 successful graduates the Euro-BBW could say good-bye to an especially large and exceptionally high-performing graduation year. With a rate of success of 96 % the graduates exceeded the German average of 80 – 85 % and the long-standing average of the Euro-BBW. Moreover, there were also very successful individual performances: Mrs. Marina Herges was honored as best housekeeper in Rhineland-Palatinate by the president of the ADD Trier which is the responsible authority for the vocation housekeeper in Rhineland-Palatinate. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Trier also appreciated its top graduates of the year, including Mr. Sebastian Behrens as IT specialist and Mrs. Lea Victoria Olböter as Health Services Officer who have both passed their vocational training in the Euro-BBW. 

Leonardo projct of the Euro-BBW awarded

After having submitted the final report, the European Vocational Training Centre got a very positive feedback for a biennial exchange project in vocational training, co-financed by the European programme Leonardo da Vinci Mobility and realized in co-operation with the Finnish partner Luovi Vocational Institut. „The project's implementation was of excellent quality“ according to the National Agency Education for Europe at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training which is responsible for providing funds for Leonardo projects in Germany.  Thus, the project is listed as „good practice example“ in the corresponding project and product portal of the European Commission for Leonardo Da Vinci.

Trainees win with moral courage

Prospective media designers of the second training year took part in the “school competition for political education” announced by the Federal Agency for Civic Education and won a fantastic prize. The topic of their age group was “Take heart! Trainees train moral courage” and they had to contrive and document scenes about moral courage. Our trainees have reenacted scenes with and without courageous intervention, they interviewed participants and collaborators of the Euro-BBW about the topic and they shot an eight-minute film. The jury of the competition which was composed of technical teachers and representatives of the ministries of education, thought that the „quality with regards to contents as well as the creative design of our contribution was quite worth the money“ and priced us with 150 Euro. The winning class can use this money for common activities or an excursion. The Euro-BBW was one of the first 200 winners out of a total of 2752 contributions! 

EIFELLADEN opens in pedestrian area in Bitburg

For several years, the Euro-BBW is keeping a tea shop in the centre of Bitburg in order to offer our trainees in trade vocations a learning location with regular customer contact. The Euro-BBW has rented now the neighbouring vacant shop and can thus enlarge the learning location with a new range of food and non-food and can fill a gap in the supply of these products in Bitburg. The Eifelladen opened in March 2015. Its attractive interior was made by our prospective joiners during a training project. 

Our Tea Shop was elected ServiceStar 2014 by the readers of the Trierischer Volksfreund

In a large survey among its readers, our regional newspaper Trierischer Volksfreund was looking for particularly customer-friendly and service-oriented enterprises in order to award them with the „TV ServiceStar 2014“. Expertise, cordiality, ambience, good advice and a good value for money were criteria for the selection. Numerous readers have voted for our Tea Shop to be a TV ServiceStar 2014.

Euro-BBW invites to nationwide soccer tournament

As acting vice champion our soccer team was charged to organise the German Soccer Tournament of the 52 Vocational Training Centres in 2014. A total of 167 persons of 13 vocational training centres from Schleswig-Holstein to Bavaria have participated in this tournament. The former referee of the German Soccer League Alfons Berg refereed the final and the former spokesman of the DFB Haral Stenger acted as patron of this event.

Federal President Gauck and Prime Minister Dreyer visits Euro-BBW

At the invitation of Prime Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, Malu Dreyer,  Federal President Joachim Gauck visited our training centre together with Daniela Schadt. During his tour in Rhineland-Palatinate he was especially interested in the topics demographic change, securing skilled employees for the future and inclusion. After addresses of welcome by District Administrator Rainer Kaul, President of the German Red Cross, as well as by the mayor of Bitburg, Joachim Kandels, Günther Weydt, director of the Euro-BBW, presented the tasks of the vocational training centre. Afterwards, Federal President Gauck and Mrs. Schadt as well as Prime Minister Dreyer and Mr. Jensen, mayor of Trier, signed the Golden Book of Bitburg and the guestbook of the European Vocational Training Centre. Subsequently, our trainees presented the in-house travel agency „weltweit“, media design training and a site of our gardeners to Federal President Gauck who got a theoretical and practical insight into their work. Thanks to his humorous and uncomplicated nature, our „First Citizen“ quickly got in contact with our trainees and was interested in the particularities of the individual job profiles and gives the Euro-BBW credit for its good training status.

Not typical for the Eifel region, but special

Within the framework of the series „Initiative Building culture Eifel“ the Euro-BBW was portrayed as „architectural hightlight of particular grade“ in Bitburg. „Of course, the architecture is not typical for the Eifel region but the transregional, open function of the building justify the expressive construction in spots“, according to the authors. At the same time they emphasize its integration into the neighbouring landscape as well as the interweaving of buildings and open areas.
The Initiative Building culture is supported by the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm, the architectural association as well as the Land Rhineland-Palatinate and introduces regularly best-practice examples of restructured buildings which are typical for the Eifel region and of new buildings which pick up typical stylistic elements (www.eifel-baukultur.de) . The initiative is sponsored by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (ELER).

We are "Top Trainer of the Year 2014" in the vocational field Chef (m/f)

In recognition of its outstanding training activities in the vocational field Chef (m/f), our kitchen was assigned as „Top Trainer of the Year 2014“. The Association of Chefs in Germany e.V. and the magazine KÜCHE published by LPV Media GmbH have awarded the top trainers for the twelfth time. Uwe Fusenig, chef de cuisine, and trainer Günter Halfmann received the award at the InterGastra in Stuttgart as representatives of the whole kitchen staff.

Honor, to whom honor is due

Within the framework of a ceremony in the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Trier in October 2013, our collaborators Mr Follmann, Mr Fusenig and Mr Höftmann were appreciated for their readiness as examiners in the boards of examiners of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Trier and received the silver badge of honor.

Euro-BBW is vice champion

After the soccer team of our participants won the championship of the vodcational training centres in Southwestern Germany in June 2013, they came in second at the German championship of the vocational training centres!

Heavy traffic at potato festival

In 2013, we had the guiding theme „potato festival“ for our Open Days, which was well accepted by the public. More than 1,000 visitors frequented the Euro-BBW to celebrate the festival. The mayor of Bitburg, Joachim Kandels, and other municipal representatives also visited the Euro-BBW and assured themselves of the variety of teaching methods in the different training courses as well as of the innovative working approaches. We welcomed also 20 guests from Gothenburg/Sweden and representatives of our partner institutions of the neighbouring countries. Small children were excited of potato printing and making potato sacks, and the traditional potato specialities made of about 250 kg fresh Eifel potatoes were sold like hot cakes and even ran short in the afternoon. Anyhow we could leave a favourable impression as modern vocational training centre by presenting training offers such as the Health services officer, information technology and media design as well as the presentation of Smart-Boards or additional offers of support in the study room of the vocational school or a digital Euro-BBW rally.

Cake campaign „150th anniversary of the Red Cross – celebrate with us!“

Based upon the 150th anniversary of the German Red Cross in 2013, our housekeeping trainees had to bake 20 butter-cream cakes which were delivered to the regional chapters of the German Red Cross in Bitburg, Wittlich and Bernkastel-Kues where the cakes will be distributed to different institutions in order to surprise the people there or simply to say "thank you". Within the framework of this campaign a total of 150 cakes will be given away to different institutions in Rhineland-Palatinate.

European Vocational Training Centre succesful at the simulation game Stock market

In 2012, our trainees of the field Health Services Officers took part in the simulation game Stock market and received a special price for the best team of a vocational school.  The intention of the simulation game Stock market, which has been organised since 1983, is to familiarize the pupils with the stock market. Each group disposes of a virtual seed capital of 50,000 E and has to try to raise the assets. As a reward for the successful buying and selling, the Kreissparkasse Bitburg-Prüm handed over 100 Euro to the winners.

Kiosk in the Euro-BBW

More than ten years ago our kiosk has been integrated as an additional training location for commercial training into the European Vocational Training Centre Bitburg and is managed by especially the trainees of the trade professions as part of their practical training. One of our long-time suppliers is "Lekkerland", the market leader in this field. In the December issue of its customer magazine "Mein Shop" our kiosk is portrayed with the headline "young and dynamic" as a "unique project with potential for the future". The Euro-BBW shares the trainee's happiness about this positive image as many thousands of shop operators.

Exhibition on „compulsive gambling“

People face a lot of risks of habit formation in our society. It occurs in all age groups and all social ranks, but young people are particularly at risks. That is why addiction has been a common subject in the Euro-BBW for many years. Many people do not know that addictions do not only arise with physical “substances” but also with e.g. “compulsive gambling”.
Many years ago, compulsive gambling rather referred to slot machines and casinos. Nowadays and with the rapid development of computer technology in the last ten years, addictive behaviour also developed with the use of computer games and social networks. That is why the study group Prevention of Dependence of the Euro-BBW and the Caritas-Suchtberatungsstelle Westeifel have prepared an exhibition on „compulsive gambling“ which was visually realised by posters created by our media designers. In November 2012 this exhibition was officially inaugurated in the Euro-BBW by Mr. Kandels, mayor of Bitburg, in the presence of external guests and experts. The Regional Centre for Health Education of Rhineland-Palatinate is interested in the posters and wants to provide them to all interested groups. 

Tribute to the best graduates 2012 by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Trier

With 550 guests, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Trier honoured the graduates with the best exam of the year 2012. 175 particularly successful trainees out of a total of 2,227 graduates of the region were invited to this ceremony, among these two trainees of the European Vocational Training Centre: Mr. Andreas R., who already passed his final exam as kitchen assistant in January 2012, and Ms. Julia S., who completed her trainning as management assistant for office communication with excellent results in June 2012. The president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Peter Adrian, its CEO Dr. Jan Glockauer as well as the head of division Vocational schools of the supervising agency of cities and municipalities of Trier, Mrs. Brigitte Fischer, handed out the certificates and expressed their gratitude and appreciation. Both former trainees of the Euro-BBW have rapidly found a job and have been integrated well into professional life. 

Euro-BBW cooked for Fair Play Tour 2012

The Euro-BBW was involved twice in the Fair Play Tour 2012: On the one hand we took part with a cyclist group; on the other hand our kitchen took charge of the catering for the cyclists when they arrived in Bitburg after a distance of about 750 km through Hunsrück, Saarland, Lorraine, the Belgian and Luxembourgian Ardennes. The Fair Play Tour aims at improving the dialogue between young (and older) people living in the Grand Region by joint sports activities and the associated support of aid projects in Rwanda which is compiled by sponsor fees.

Euro-BBW’s gardeners design a sensual garden for the senior citizen centre in Rüdesheim/Bad Kreuznach

Our gardening trainees were responsible for the green area of the new senior citizen centre in Rüdesheim/Bad Kreuznach which is managed by the German Red Cross, regional association of Rhineland-Palatinate. In March 2012, 21 trainees as well as their trainers Ms. Mertz, Mr. Adam, Mr. Haeber and Mr. Hemmes were on site and realised the planting works and the design of the sensual garden for dementia patients.

Euro-BBW celebrates its 10th anniversary

"We, as part of the Red Cross, are concerned about a practice-oriented training of young people with disabilities" declared Rainer Kaul, president of the German Red Cross in Rhineland-Palatinate, in  his welcoming speech. The Euro-BBW focusses on a close interaction of theoretical knowledge and practical "training firms" or study workshops. "This enables us to integrate young people more specifically into the labour market and to facilitate thus their participation in social and vocational life."
Jacqueline Kraege, undersecretary of Rhineland-Palatinate, Heidrun Schulz, chairwoman of the regional management board Rhineland-Palatinate-Saarland of the Federal Employment Agency and Richard Fischels, representative of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, expressed their appreciation concerning the work this "special" vocational training centre has done so far and they traced details of its history which started already in the middle of the nineties.
Representatives of Luxembourg, Wallonia, the German-speaking Community of Belgium and Rhineland-Palatinate honoured the special European profile of our institution during a podium discussion and thus affirmed a declaration of 1997 in which a common interest in the establishment and development of a vocational training centre was expressed. As the European network goes beyond the borders of the Grand Region and not all partners were able to participate personally in the ceremony, some partners from the Netherlands, Spain, Finland, Sweden and Luxembourg sent video clips with their congratulations. Another highlight was an audio-visual retrospect from the construction phase until current projects which retraced humorously the dynamic development of this biggest training centre within the region of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Trier with numerous facts and figures. The ceremony was completed by an auction of products manufactured in the Euro-BBW. Andreas Sittmann, member of the "Song Travellers", presented skilfully this auction whose revenues were determined for the "driving-licence project" of the Euro-BBW.
After the ceremony we passed on to an Open Door Day which was visited by former trainees, relatives of our current trainees, commercial partners and numerous interested citizens and neighbours. Besides the presentation of different vocational trainings, special projects or teaching demonstrations with smart boards, we offered a varied contrast with different culinary goodies, a diversified programme with the "Song Travellers" and games for children, last but not least a digital Carrera racing track sponsored by the Carrera Club Germany. Our guests could use a shuttle service to visit our "Bistro Finesse" or the new "Tea Shop" in the city centre of Bitburg.

Swords and shields made in Bitburg

A total of ten wooden swords, two metal swords, eight wooden shields and one metal dagger were the result of a common working project of the pre-vocational training and the joinery of the Euro-BBW and were purpose-made for the Roman spectacle “Brot & Spiele” (Bread and circuses) in Trier. Jan Krüger, main actor who adopts the part of Hercules, ordered these Roman tools. He was very impressed by the quality of our products as he already ordered weapons in the Euro-BBW for his gladiator school.

Euro-BBW receives multiple certifications

In May 2011, Euro-BBW received three certifications for its quality by TÜV Süd. The certification of its quality management system according to the international standard ISO 9001 involved at the same time an assessment of the occupational safety management according to the requirements of the responsible institution for statutory accident insurance and prevention in the health and welfare services (MAAS BGW).Furthermore, TÜV Süd attested our training centre of vocational rehabilitation with supraregional catchment area to fulfil the special requirements of the regulation for recognition and admission requirements further training of the Federal Employment Agency (AZWV). By the way, the Euro-BBW is the first and only vocational training centre in Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland that fulfils the special management requirements concerning occupational safety of the institution for statutory accident insurance and prevention in the health and welfare services!
In spring 2012 the TÜV Süd (the society which is in charge of and accredited to certifications) carried out the annual surveillance audit as a matter of routine and stated that the Euro-BBW meets all given requirements concerning a quality management system.

Project "Transworkcoaching" selected as a best practice example

"Transworkcoaching – European Ways towards the vocational integration of people with disabilities“ was the name of a European "Leonardo da Vinci" project coordinated by the Euro-BBW (“quality and development” staff). Now it was chosen as a best practice example in a booklet about the European Year to combat poverty and social exclusion (2010).
Concepts and proposals for a multidimensional approach to improve the opportunities of vocational integration of young people with disabilities were developed in the project. Two core products still come into operation: the so-called "Competence Map" – an instrument to document competences – and the transnational further training "JobCoaching". The Competence Map is an element of our educational planning in the Euro-BBW.
You can find the booklet at the website of the Agence Francophone pour l'Education et la Formation Tout au Long de la Vie. Information about the project starts at page 54.

Euro-BBW media designers win special award

In the students’ competition for civic education 2010 the Euro-BBW media design class MG 08 has won a special award.
The jury of the Federal Agency for Civic Education was impressed: Euro-BBW trainees spent a lot of work on their contribution, a creative film on Anne Frank. They concerned themselves intensively with the topic “Street names – researched!” which motivated them to deliver a maximum performance.
"They all went to a lot of trouble and collected lots of information", says teacher Dieter Höftmann." The trainees got into the topic via the 'Anne-Frank-Straße' and then they considered how they could establish a connection between themselves and Anne Frank by producing a short video clip - they prepared quite a number of facts and pictures on Anne Frank and learnt much on the way."
Participants were supposed to present their research results in a multimedia presentation. A video clip originally was not demanded - but the high quality and creativity shown in our trainees' contribution was requited by a special award. Thus our media designers stood up to a massive competition: More than 60,000 young people sent in more than 3,000 contributions.
These efforts were now rewarded with one of the first prizes: The class was invited to take an educational trip to Wiesbaden to the Voluntary Self Regulation of the Movie Industry (equivalent to e.g. the British Board of Film Classification). There they will – for example - discuss problems with movie ratings by watching a movie.

Unfortunately we can't show the video here as the copyright was transferred to the Federal Agency for Civic Education.

Euro-BBW designs a "Sensual Garden" for the DRK old people's center in Altenkirchen

Garden and landscaping trainees from the Euro-BBW in Bitburg took an active role in the planning and realisation of the outdoor facilities at the DRK old people's center in Altenkirchen. A "Sensual Garden", which above all invites dementia afflicted residents to be active and enjoy the pleasant floral scents, was erected in co-operation with the architects Horn in Mainz. The trainees could pick up on previous experience made designing the equally attractive outdoor facilities at the old people's center in Kell am See some years ago. Head of department Michael Hemmes appeared very pleased with this project's form, which gave the trainees an extremely realistic impression of contracting outside the home location, while the builder's noticable appreciation conveyed self assurance.

International youth project on the prevention of drug addiction

"Searching for happiness" is the title of a transnational music and theatre production which 25 young people from the 5 neighbouring regions Lothringen (F), Luxembourg, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland and Wallonien (B) in November under the professional supervision of the drama teachers Jean-Martin Solt (F/D) und Roger Seimetz (L) and the music teachers Sven und Max Sauber (L) developed and rehearsed during a workshop in Eupen (B) lasting several days and culminating in a regional tour in January 2009 with performances for youths in Saarbrücken, Sarreguemines (F), Bitburg and Luxembourg. The performance in the Euro-BBW conference center, with opulent images punctuated with German and French lines, was seen on the 27.01.09 alone by an audience of over 200 young people, half of whom were from other vocational training institutions.
The project is one further result of a cross-border co-operation begun in Mondorf, Luxembourg in 1993, supported by 5 community organisations from the border area, whose aim is to strengthen co-operation in the prevention of drug addiction in the region SAAR-LOR-LUX-Wallonie-RLP. The supporting body on the Rheinland-Pfalz side is the Caritasverband Westeifel e.V. which also supports the addiction counselling bureau in Bitburg and has collaborated with the Euro-BBW via its local network for several years. It was therefore not surprising that the Euro-BBW's addiction case managers, social counsellor Ulrike Nepp and educational trainer Nadine Bläser, along with several participants, were actively engaged in the project work and contributed to its success. The insight "All people need happiness and satisfaction - that´s the best prevention against addiction!" was not only used to develop the title for the youth project; the slogan should also serve as an orientation for the participants and audience thus contributing to integration.

Nativity crib

Trainee joiners at the Euro-BBW have built a nativity crib for the Christmas market in Bitburg. Constructing the crib took three weeks. A mock up on a scale of 1:10 was made prior to building. Trainers and trainees took pleasure in this project, which combined enjoyment and practical experience. Business association chairman Edgar Bujara praised the crib as exemplary work.

Model of the Bitburg synagogue

For a long time, the history of Bitburg's synagogue lay in the dark - until a previously unknown photograph of the building was discovered in 2005.  Civil architect Peter Josef Julius Wolff drew up a plan of the building based on this photo; the director of the regional museum in Bitburg, Burkhard Kaufmann, reconstructed its appearance. This information served a trainee carpenter from the Euro-BBW as the basis for a wooden model publicly on display during the exhibition "Tendencies of Jewish life" 2009 in Bitburg.

Musical "monocolor"

The Euro-BBW's equipment allows to have a go at diverse musical projects. Thus a few years ago participants founded their own band called Promobeats. Promobeats played cover versions as well as their own compositions. For example they created a musical designed to help them overcome the early death of one of our participants of Leucaemia: a space traveller visits the planet Monocolor and there turns many things upside down.
At the moment a new band is forming with a high zest for checking out different musical directions.