Olha Ostapenko: Breaking Stereotypes in the Auto Repair Industry

“I love cars and always wanted to learn how to fix them,” says 36-year-old Olha Ostapenko from Vepryk, Poltava region. “Being a locksmith is not just something I love; it’s my way of helping rebuild Ukraine. Skilled specialists are needed now more than ever.”

Before the full-scale invasion, Olha lived in Tokmak, Zaporizhzhia region, raising her three-year-old son alone. In 2022, heavy shelling forced her to flee to Vepryk in the Hadyach district. “Of course, I miss my home, but for now I will stay in Hadyach — people here are kind and my son is getting used to the silence without explosions,” she says.

In her new home, Olha began looking for work. A visit to the Hadyach Employment Centre led to an opportunity to train as a wheeled vehicle repair locksmith at the Hadyach Higher Vocational Agricultural School — exactly what she had always dreamed of. Inspired by her grandfather, a farm driver, she had been fascinated by cars since childhood.

Some acquaintances tried to discourage her, calling it a “man’s profession.” But Olha was determined: “I have a clear goal to master this profession and become a real specialist in this field.”

She completed her training excellently and is now seeking a job in Hadyach. Her next step is to gain more skills through advanced courses and eventually open her workshop.

“I am grateful for this opportunity. Adults don’t often get the chance to learn a new profession. For me, being a locksmith is not just doing what I enjoy — it’s also my personal contribution to rebuilding the country.”

The training was conducted under the Training for Change project, implemented by the NGO Ukrainian Professional Development within Skills4Recovery.