Eritrean Apprentice Niguse: Photo NLZ.
Despite a dangerous journey, war scenes and a language barrier, a young Eritrean manages to work for four years as an apprentice becoming top of his class.
Altdorf (Switzerland) - Niguse Ghebregazabiher is a 29-year-old Eritrean with approved asylum seeker status in Switzerland.
The de facto no-war-no-peace situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia remains since war broke out in 1998. This has had a negative impact on Eritrea’s domestic human rights situation. Speaking out against government policies or the government can land you in jail without a fair trial because of the absence of an independent judicial system.
Anyone who criticizes the state is labeled “traitor” and can end up in prison or being killed. “I did not come to Europe for money.” says Niguse Ghebregzabiher “I just wanted to leave my home in order to survive.”
He arrived a little more than six years ago in Switzerland after being stranded on the Italian coast in an inflatable boat with other refugees.
The Eritrean found a new life in Altdorf, Switzerland and stands out as a good example of the successful integration of immigrants into the conservative Swiss society.
Niguse will finish his apprenticeship as a cabinet maker, a highly specific vocational qualification, this summer and probably with the best grades in his class.
Hermann Herger, the owner of the local furniture company says that he is very happy with Niguse and that he doesn’t regret a second having employed the young Eritrean.
Re-edited: 02 February 2014 from Swiss daily Neue Luzerner Zeitunng.
