On 8 October, a farewell ceremony for the 22 Ukrainian interns took place in Filderstadt, near Stuttgart. After six months of intensive internships, the participants, their host families and representatives of the institutions involved came together to celebrate this shared experience and bring it to a fitting close.

The event was opened by Siegfried Schwab, Vice Chair of the AKI Board. In his speech, he emphasised the importance of the programme, which supports young people from Ukraine during the particularly challenging circumstances of the war while also strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

Andrea Scholz, Deputy Head of the “Education and Advisory Services” Division at the Ministry of Rural Affairs, Agriculture and Home Affairs, also paid tribute to the commitment of everyone involved. Lesia Shcherbakova and Natalia Yevstratieva, project partners from the Scientific and Methodological Centre for Higher Education and Pre-Higher Vocational Education in Kyiv, had travelled to attend the farewell ceremony and accompany the interns on their journey home. They highlighted the importance of the programme for Ukrainian students – despite all the challenges, or perhaps especially because of them.

The contributions of one intern and one farm manager vividly illustrated how much everyone involved benefits from this exchange. Both spoke about their shared work, memorable experiences and new perspectives gained not only by the interns but also by the farm managers.

The certificates were presented by Andrea Scholz and Siegfried Schwab to recognise the successful completion of the internships. Hosting farms celebrating milestone anniversaries for their long-standing support of the programme were also honoured.

Another highlight was a performance of a Ukrainian folk song by one of the interns, which visibly captivated the audience. The shared lunch also contributed to the warm and convivial atmosphere. The event demonstrated how a vibrant community has developed around the internship programme.

As the event came to a close, it became clear that six months spent together create lasting bonds and that saying goodbye is not easy for everyone. It is all the more encouraging that many of these connections may continue beyond the internships. Numerous farms have already announced that they intend to participate again next year. This will allow the exchange to continue, creating opportunities for new encounters, shared experiences and many more chances to broaden horizons.

AKI would like to express its sincere gratitude to everyone involved for their commitment and reliable cooperation, particularly to the Ministry of Rural Affairs, Agriculture and Home Affairs and the Landwirtschaftliche Rentenbank, whose financial support makes the programme possible.