Vladyslav Motrenko: Professional Growth Through Agri-Drones
“As soon as I heard about the opportunity to work with agri-drones, I immediately decided to apply. I want to grow in this profession, to fly more and to keep strengthening my skills,”
says Vladyslav Motrenko from the town of Samar in Dnipropetrovsk region.
At just 25 years old, Vladyslav has already gained substantial life experience. He voluntarily joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the age of 19, initially serving as a grenadier and later advancing to become a squad leader. After sustaining a severe injury, followed by a lengthy rehabilitation and prosthetic treatment, he began looking for a new direction in life. Training as an agricultural drone operator became the turning point that opened this new chapter.
“I heard from a friend who works at the Dnipro Employment Centre that there are many interesting training opportunities for veterans. As soon as I heard about agricultural drones, I knew I wanted to apply,” he recalls.
The flexible learning format offered within the “Skills for inclusion” project was especially valuable to Vladyslav. He completed theoretical modules online and attended practical sessions in Dnipro. This approach enabled him to balance his everyday responsibilities, care for his pregnant wife, and acquire a new profession, which was particularly important considering that mobility remained a challenge after his injury.
The training process became a source of inspiration. Vladyslav enthusiastically practised flight exercises, studied modern technologies and realised that agri-drones are a rapidly developing field with long-term career prospects. He now dreams of purchasing his own drone to start a small business and provide individual services to farmers. He is also considering the possibility of working for a large agricultural holding.
Participation in the project provided Vladyslav not only with a new qualification but also with renewed confidence and a foundation for future growth. He is convinced that learning opens doors to new possibilities — and that moving forward is the best strategy for recovery.
Background
The training was conducted within the project “Skills for inclusion: workplace-based training for activating vulnerable groups”, implemented by the NGO “Ukrainian professional development” within Skills4Recovery.
The Multi Donor Initiative Skills4Recovery is financed by the European Union, Germany, Poland, Estonia, and Denmark. It is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Solidarity Fund PL (SFPL).