A few days ago, Der Spiegel reported: Almost 150,000 children and young people in German schools.
The war in Ukraine is leaving its mark. According to Tagesschau, 600,000 Ukrainians have fled to Germany. Whether they will ever be able or willing to return remains to be seen. Those who have settled in well and see a future may stay. We should prepare ourselves for the fact that German society will once again have to cope with many refugees. This should not be seen in a negative light; it also offers many opportunities.
Clarify expectations, recognize differences
Nevertheless, you should prepare yourself for what makes these people tick, where they come from and what their values are. These are sometimes very different from those in Germany. The first companies have already knocked on our door because they want to employ Ukrainian refugees. Before doing so, it is advisable to first find out what you can expect from these people, where their strengths lie and where the differences to the German way of thinking lie.
There is not just one Ukraine, just as there is not just one Germany
There are also big differences in mentality in Germany. Let’s take Bavarians and Hanseatics as an example. At first glance, a west-east divide can be observed in Ukraine. In the west, Ukrainians are more “Ukrainian”, while in the east, those whose native language is not Ukrainian but Russian were more inclined towards their Russian neighbors. However, this has now changed. You could say that it was Putin’s war that created Ukraine in the first place, namely that all of the country’s inhabitants identify with it.
Cultural differences in almost all areas
In contrast to the Arab refugees of 2015, the Ukrainians seem much more similar to us. They look the same, they are even Christians. However, one should not neglect the cultural differences, because Ukrainian society functions according to different rules than German society. To a large extent, Ukrainian society is still a post-Soviet society. Generational change takes time. On the other hand, younger Ukrainians in particular are open and interested in the West and often speak foreign languages, mostly English. Of course, this makes many things easier. However, Ukrainians differ from Germans in many cultural respects, here are a few examples: Hierarchical thinking, relationship orientation, time attitude or communication patterns.
Intercultural training Ukraine – a profitable preparation
If you want to help the Ukrainians and give them work, you should prepare yourself for these people. Ukrainians often have different ideas than we expect. So if you want to take advantage of this opportunity, you should prepare yourself thoroughly, otherwise you may be disappointed on both sides. Nothing is worse than disappointed expectations. In an intercultural training course in Ukraine, you will learn how you can create a win-win situation for everyone involved. For the benefit of all, especially those who have had to suffer from flight and war.
