Some hold back tears, others offer nervous smiles, each aware that this moment marks the start of a life-changing journey far from home.
“I have never left Guatemala City, let alone my country,” said Billy, one of the participants. “My family is very excited because I will be the first of us to travel abroad.”
Safe route
Their three-month opportunity is part of a pilot project designed to create safe and regular labor migration pathways, supported by the Guatemalan government, the German Embassy in Guatemala, the Technical Training and Productivity Institute and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The journey is guided by a sense of purpose shaped by resilience, determination and years of effort. In Germany, this goal will translate into skills, technical knowledge and a commitment to supporting loved ones back home.
Months of training unfolded in a single moment at the gate, where determination overcame nerves.
Workers will train and work as packaging distributors, learning valuable skills, supporting their families and making new connections overseas.
After months of preparation, the moment feels both surreal and hard-won, the result of months of study, evaluation and anticipation.
Ricardo, a 36-year-old Mayan from Alta Verapaz, a region in northern Guatemala known for its rich coffee production, used to get up at 1 a.m. to travel to Guatemala City for the training sessions held as part of the pilot project.
He hopes this new chapter can help him build a more stable future at home.
Oscar, a car mechanic, along with Douglas and John, all said they were undertaking the journey to give their children a safer and better future.
“When I heard the news, I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I had applied for the program a year earlier and had almost given up hope. Then, all of a sudden, I got a call. I’m going in with pride; I want to show what Guatemalans are made of.”
For many participants, a simple social media post announcing the opportunity was the first step toward something they had never imagined.
Technical training on automotive systems and safety prepared the men for the challenges ahead, strengthening their skills well before boarding the plane.
In the months before their departure, the group took classes to learn skills they believed would stay with them for life – studying engines, maintenance systems and the correct names of car parts.
The group also attended German classes organized by IOM, intercultural sessions and virtual tours of their future workplace.
What they practice abroad will ripple back home, strengthening their communities, inspiring others, and creating small changes across borders.
New opportunities abroad for young talents from Guatemala
For John, enthusiasm was as much linked to discovery as to professional development.
“It’s not just about salary. It’s about something deeper: discovering another country, meeting new people, understanding how they live, their food, their culture, their way of partying. In the end, it’s not about what you earn, but what stays with you long after you leave.”
As the training progressed, a different type of growth took shape. The ten men grew closer through group chats where they shared messages, jokes, questions and small details about their lives.
At the airport, families wave and shout words of encouragement as the group heads toward the gate.
Before entering the departure hall, Oscar ends a video call with his family.
“Does what lies ahead worry me? No, but it certainly excites me,” he said.
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