New skills – new opportunities for development: EU supports vocational education and the drive for change

Olha Ostapenko, aged 36, lives in the village of Vepryk, in the Poltava region of central Ukraine. She is a single mother raising her three-year-old son alone, an internally displaced person (IDP), and a participant in the ‘Training for Change’ project, implemented by the Ukrainian Professional Development NGO within the framework of the EU-funded Vocational Education in Ukraine / Skills4Recovery programme.

‘I have the strength to start a new life’

She trained as a vehicle repair locksmith at the Hadiach Higher Vocational Agricultural College.

Before the full-scale war, Olha lived in Tokmak in the Zaporizhzhia region. In 2022, as Russian forces began heavy shelling of the city, Olha and her son were forced to relocate to Vepryk in the Hadiach district of Poltava region.

“Of course, I miss home, but for now, I will stay in Hadiach – it has become my second home. The people here are kind and always ready to help. My son is no longer afraid to go outside and is getting used to the quiet, without explosions. I hope for victory to come as soon as possible.”

Upon settling in her new location, Olha immediately started looking for work. One day, during a visit to the Hadiach Employment Centre, she was offered the opportunity to train as a locksmith at the local vocational college. Olha was thrilled, as understanding and repairing cars had long been her dream.

“I have loved cars since childhood. I always dreamed of learning to repair them and helping others. My grandfather, who worked as a driver on a farm, was my inspiration. I often accompanied him, and my curiosity about mechanics has stayed with me ever since.”

Many people tried to discourage Olha from pursuing locksmith training, claiming it was a “man’s profession” and too difficult for her. Society told her that the skills wouldn’t be useful for a single mother raising a child alone. But Olha was confident in herself and ignored the doubts. She knew exactly what she wanted:

“I love this work. My goal is to master this profession and become a true specialist.”

During her participation in the ‘Training for Change’ project, Olha demonstrated exceptional skills, successfully completing tasks of various levels of difficulty. She earned her qualification as an auto locksmith and is now actively looking for a job in Hadiach.

But Olha has even bigger ambitions – she dreams of opening her own auto repair shop. To achieve this, she plans to continue her education by taking additional automotive repair courses and eventually launching her own business.

The biggest motivation for Olha is knowing that her training and participation in the project allow her to do what she loves – while also earning a stable income.

“I am grateful for this opportunity. Adults don’t often get the chance to learn a new profession. Being a locksmith is not just about doing something I enjoy; it’s also my contribution to rebuilding the country. Right now, there is a shortage of skilled workers in this field. I have the strength to start a new life, and I am ready to be useful to my country.”