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Monday morning at four on the highway, Friday afternoon back. And in between a lot of work and long evenings in a small, sparse apartment: This is what Philipp Friedrich's life looked like for almost two years. “Actually, it was no longer a real life”, says the 28-year-old. At home the girlfriend and family were waiting, and in the distance work. Hundreds of thousands from the region are like Friedrich: They commute between home and work. At the end of the month, there was frustration, longing for the family and an empty wallet: a large part of the wages went to the gas station and for the second home.
But that belongs to the past for the young man from Radebeul. “It was my greatest wish to come back. I'm really happy that it worked!”, says the 28-year-old. He was helped by the returnee project “Wachstumsregion Dresden”, which aims to support people who have had to leave their homeland for professional reasons in recent years, but want to return. A good year ago, the district of Bautzen, the cities of Kamenz and Radeberg and the employment agency initiated the project. Since then, cities such as Grossenhain (Meißen district), Pulsnitz and Großröhrsdorf have been added. The Dresden Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Dresden Chamber of Crafts and many entrepreneurs also support the network. The project has so far received around 150 inquiries from interested parties interested in returning - including many families. “Our support is very individual and can sometimes take one to one and a half years”, says Doreen-Charlotte Hantschke, Kamenz's business consultant, and one of the project initiators. After all, it's about a life decision. Before the big step back home, a job, a new apartment or a house, kindergarten or school place must be found.
For Philipp Friedrich, too, the question of a new job came first. For a pipe network master and a specialist for drinking water supply, the jobs aren´t found on the street. But working with Jörg Hohlfeld from the job agency Bautzen helped him improve his chances. The application portfolio and curriculum vitae were revised and jointly searched for vacancies. “I would also have been prepared to do something completely different” Friedrich said, adding: “I just wanted to go back.” Jörg Hohlfeld also had this experience: “Most of those willing to return are even willing to earn a third less than before, but at some point the pain threshold is reached.”
Philipp Friedrich has found a job at the technology company Infineon in Dresden: “It's like winning the lottery.” He moved in with his girlfriend Kristin and can regularly meet friends and family. The 28-year-old is also doing better physically: “I can sleep more peacefully again.
For the initiators of the project “Wachstumsregion Dresden” it is always a very special moment when they can personally greet a returnee. “It doesn't really matter whether he moves to Kamenz, Radeberg, Pulsnitz or Großröhrsdorf or only works there”, emphasizes Doreen-Charlotte Hantschke and adds: “Commuter relationships will always exist. It is important to strengthen the entire region and make it attractive for returnees.” Just like for Philipp Friedrich.
Interview and Text: Daniela Retzmann & Peter Glumbick