Open Day in Bergen: Give people with disabilities a chance!

Open Day in Bergen: Give people with disabilities a chance!

In Bergen, in the Vorpommern-Rügen district, the DRK workshop for disabled people (WfbM) opens its doors. On Thursday, September 25, 2025, anyone interested will have the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Under the motto “Stop by today – join in tomorrow” this facility offers insights into its diverse offerings and work areas. Around 200 people with intellectual, psychological and multiple disabilities are employed here and receive support and encouragement in their professional development.

The workshop is much more than just a workplace. Participation means a valuable participation in life, especially for the employees. Important foundations for future activities are laid through vocational training in the vocational training sector, which lasts up to 27 months. The employees not only learn the craft of their respective work area, but also essential skills such as teamwork, reliability and occupational safety. The offer includes, among other things, carpentry, metal processing and garden and landscape maintenance. Special attention is also paid to leisure activities that enable employees to develop themselves personally.

Insights into the different work areas

The work areas in the DRK workshop are varied: In the carpentry workshop, wooden products, furniture and custom-made products are manufactured. Likewise, machine work and assembly are carried out in metalworking. Creative textile work and repairs are carried out in the sewing department, while green spaces are maintained and designed by the garden and landscape maintenance department.

For people with greater support needs, there are special support programs that are individually tailored to their needs. This funding area ensures a daily structure and supports the participants in their everyday lives. External integration takes place through internships in companies so that participants can also gain experience outside of the workshop.

Focus on professional integration

The importance of professional participation for people with disabilities is undisputed. Initiatives such as “Fit for work until 25” aim to help young people gain access to the labor market. In addition, the Ministry of Social Affairs promotes special support offers for this group of people in order to improve integration into society. The various integration services and the funding from the federal government's “employment offensive” are also central aspects in offering people with disabilities a perspective in the general labor market. Particular emphasis is placed on creating a non-discriminatory working environment. Employers have additional incentives to employ people with disabilities, which strengthens diversity and inclusion in companies.

On the open day, visitors will have the opportunity to find out directly from the employees about educational support and the various support offers. Insights into the workshops, from the vocational training area to the specific fields of work, await everyone who is interested in this important topic.

Come by and experience how integration is lived in practice - the DRK workshop in Bergen is a valuable place for participation and impressively brings humanity and vocational training together. Find out more, show interest and stop by - maybe it's the first step to a new perspective.

For more information, visit the website of NDR, DRK Rügen or Austrian Ministry of Social Affairs.