“I have never left Guatemala City, let alone my country,” said Billy, one of the participants. “My family is very excited because I am the first among us to travel abroad.”
Safe path
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 Embassy of Germany 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, that goal will translate into skills, technical knowledge and a commitment to supporting loved ones at home.
© IOM/Melisa Kljuca
Months of training came together in one moment at the departure gate, where determination overtook nerves.
The workers will train and work as parcel distributors, gaining valuable skills, supporting their families and forging new connections abroad.
After months of preparation, the moment feels both surreal and hard-earned, the result of months of study, assessment and anticipation.
Ricardo, a 36-year-old Mayan man 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 trainings organized as part of the pilot project.
He hoped that 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 are taking the journey to provide a safer and better future for their children.
“When I got the news, I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I had signed up for the program a year earlier and had almost lost hope. Then suddenly I got a call. I am proud to join; I want to show what Guatemalans are made of.”
For several participants, a simple social media post announcing the opportunity was the first step toward an opportunity they never imagined.
© IOM/Melisa Kljuca/Jonathan Mazariegos
Technical training in automotive systems and safety prepared the men for the challenges ahead and strengthened their skills long before they boarded the aircraft.
In the months before their departure, the group took courses in which they learned skills they said would last a lifetime: studying engines, maintenance systems and the correct names of car parts.
The group also attended German language classes organized by IOM, intercultural sessions and virtual tours of their future workplace.
What they practice abroad will return home, strengthening their communities, inspiring others and creating small shifts across borders.
For John, the excitement was as much about discovery as it was about professional growth.
“It’s not just about the paycheck. It’s about something deeper: discovering another country, meeting new people, understanding how they live, their food, their culture, their way of celebrating. Ultimately, it’s not about what you earn, but what stays with you long after you’ve left.”
As the training progressed, a different kind of growth took shape. The ten men became closer through group chats in which they shared messages, jokes, questions and small details about their lives.
At the airport, families wave and shout words of encouragement as the group walks to the gate.
Before Oscar enters the departure hall, he ends a video call with his family.
“Am I worried about what’s ahead? No, but it certainly makes me excited,” he said.
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