One Page Summary

People seeking asylum cannot regularly participate in the Austrian job market during their running asylum procedure. Even after receiving a positive decision on asylum process, refugees encounter multiple structural and legal but also social and cultural barriers, when trying to enter the job market. There are multiple studies that show that a long-term absence from the job market is like a downward spiral that is hard to escape from. The longer a person is unemployed the bigger the obstacles become to participate in the job market. Moreover, the psychosocial consequences are severe: A permanent absence from the job market lowers the self-confidence, obstructs stability, promotes social isolation, increases the chances of addiction and criminality and makes the breaking down of traumatisation more difficult.

the social impact we generate:

Nut & Feder considers employment a central element in the social inclusion process. Work provides identification and appreciation opportunities, financial independence and autonomy, the access to social networks and increases feelings of appreciation over all.

Nut & Feder manufactures pieces of furniture with an own biography, which show that everyone is able to achieve something big. Our range of products focuses on smart outdoor furniture made of local materials. Nut & Feder produces exterior designs with integrated technology in cooperation with Smartgreen Solutions. The combination of high-end technology, innovative design and local craftsmanship is the unique characteristic of our products. We are closing a loophole on the European market with that.

The story of Hosep Berejiklian can be seen as a typical example of the step by step guidance that people with a refugee background receive. In autumn 2015, Hosep and his family fled from the Syrian city Aleppo to Vienna. Hosep had been running a successful wood and shoe factory in Aleppo, before the war. Once he had reached Vienna, he heard of Nut & Feder through Facebook and offered to work. He began working as a trainee in the wood workshop in February 2016, parallel to his AMS (job centre) classes. After one and a half years Hosep Berejiklian received a positive decision on his asylum and was then hired as a transit employee at our partner Job-TransFair – a socio-economic company of the Austrian job centre.

By now, Hosep Berejiklian is a permanent part of our Nut & Feder-Teams. He knows how to use his valuable know-how for our company, which is currently still being reframed. His skilfulness when it comes to handling wood, his experience and his engagement and his multilingualism are very valuable to us. In the wood workshop, he is now the main person responsible for the areas production, product development and work instructions.

We firmly believe that everyone is capable of doing something great.