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From contract worker to Potsdam entrepreneur: Oanh Nguyen's life journey
The article highlights the life story of Oanh Nguyen Thi, a Vietnamese contract worker in Potsdam, and her experiences after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
From contract worker to Potsdam entrepreneur: Oanh Nguyen's life journey
What happened to the former contract workers in the GDR? A look at the eventful history of Oanh Nguyen Thi, who moved from Vietnam to the GDR in 1988, shows that the life of these often forgotten people is marked by many ups and downs. Oanh, now 26 years old, was one of hundreds of thousands of contract workers who worked in the GDR from the 1960s onwards. Her journey began with an employment contract as a seamstress for initially five years, but this phase was over in 1991 when the GDR ceased to exist.
After being laid off, Oanh found not only the loss of her job, but a whole new reality. The change brought uncertainty for many, which was also reflected in Oanh's life. The migration horizon in the GDR was varied, and young people from various socialist countries sought their fortune in Germany. But after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, many contract workers, who often had no formal training, had to fight for their existence. Oanh, who had previously worked in a paper factory, soon found a new path - she moved to Potsdam and began selling clothes at a weekly market.
New beginning in Potsdam
Oanh has found a new home in Potsdam and is actively involved in the Vietnamese community. In 1993, the right to remain regulation was introduced, which helped many former contract workers like Oanh obtain temporary residence status. But it took a while until the Aliens Act of 1997 made permanent residence permits possible. The 1990s were not easy for migrants in Potsdam, as racism and xenophobia were commonplace.
Although racism officially did not exist in the GDR and racist incidents were viewed as antisocial behavior, many migrants often experienced the reality very differently. Oanh was born in 1962 in the communist north of Vietnam and brought her experiences and culture with her to Germany. Your children who are studying today will benefit from the opportunities available to them. Oanh has a good handle on her new path in life and is part of a network that sticks together.
A look into the future
Oanh's story shows how important it is to hear the voices of contract workers living in the GDR. They are often overlooked in historiography, even though they formed an essential part of the working world of that time. From around 1980, treaties were concluded between Vietnam and the GDR, which affected around 60,000 Vietnamese. Together they helped shape everyday life in the GDR, even if the conditions were often harsh and they had few rights.
As a helpful tool in the modern world, technology has also become increasingly important for migrants. With apps like GPS Coordinates Finder Users can convert addresses into geographical coordinates, which makes everyday life easier for many. Whether visitors want to explore the city or find new routes, such tools help everyone find their way around better. They are an example of how globalization and networking create new opportunities.
The story of Oanh and her colleagues remains not just a personal story, but an important chapter in the colorful and eventful history of Germany. Their experiences and challenges are part of the dazzling mosaic structure that makes up our society today.