ifm international exchange programme

This summer, the ifm group of companies launched a special international exchange programme: children and young people from ifm employee families around the world visited one another, travelling to Germany, France, the United Kingdom, China and the United States.

At first glance, an exchange programme organised through a parent’s employer may seem unusual to many teenagers. However, over the summer months, a number of young members of the ‘ifmily’, as ifm refers to its team and their families, took advantage of this unique opportunity. ‘Bridges between cultures are built when people truly meet and connect with one another,’ says Osmir Ribeiro, CSO Subsidiaries at ifm. ‘The aim is to give young people the opportunity to understand differences, discover common ground and build friendships that transcend national borders.’ To achieve this, ifm developed a varied and engaging programme. At the beginning of August, international participants from around the world spent one and a half weeks with host families in Essen and the surrounding area, home to the company’s headquarters. The initiative was organised in cooperation with AFS Intercultural Programs. During their stay, the young participants not only enjoyed a range of excursions but also visited the ifm logistics centre and took part in a joint treasure hunt across the city of Essen. Following their stay in Germany, the German participants travelled with their exchange partners to their home countries, spending nine days in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

A wealth of international experience

It went down well – both with the participants and with the staff who hosted the visiting young people. ‘Through this exchange programme, children from different countries and cultures have formed meaningful friendships and gained valuable international experience,’ says Chunhua Chen, an ifm employee based in Shanghai, China. The 17-year-old American participant, Jude Novak, is delighted with his new experiences: ‘The programme has not only deepened my understanding of American culture, but also that of European culture. The exchange was truly a life-changing experience.’

The programme is being further developed

Even after the exchange programme, the families stay in touch. The aim is to build long-term links between the various ifm sites around the world. The project is now set to be further developed so that, over the next few years, a new generation will have the opportunity to break down barriers.