Oleksandr Hoian: from veteran to turning instructor
“Today, there is a high demand for turners in both the defence and civilian sectors. I’m glad I had the opportunity to join the project and complete the training. I feel I made the right choice. This is what I want to do,”
says Oleksandr Hoian, a veteran and participant in the Skills for Inclusivity project under Skills4Recovery
Forty-five-year-old Oleksandr is originally from the city of Khrustalnyi in Luhansk region, which is currently under temporary occupation. He holds two university degrees and has many years of experience working as a mining engineer in the coal mines of Donbas.
In 2014, as a result of the fighting in Luhansk region, Oleksandr lost his wife and child and was seriously injured himself. After completing medical treatment, he relocated to Kharkiv. When the full-scale invasion began, he joined the Territorial Defence Forces and later enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served as a sniper in Kharkiv region. A second serious injury resulted in a disability. Despite this, Oleksandr was determined to return to work.
“I have a neighbour who works at the local employment centre, where I’m registered as unemployed. She told me about a new project offering turning training for veterans. I knew immediately that I had to apply because it’s a highly relevant and in-demand occupation. I wanted to find a job, and I already had experience working with metal,” says Oleksandr.
Oleksandr during practical training
The training provided Oleksandr with new knowledge, helped him refresh his professional skills, and familiarised him with modern technologies used in the industry. Almost as soon as the course began, he began actively looking for job vacancies and employer opportunities.
After completing the training, Oleksandr found employment at a local vocational education institution that provides training for people facing difficult life circumstances. Today, he delivers practical training, sharing his knowledge and experience with others and helping them gain skills for an occupation that is in demand in today's labour market.
“Don’t let fear hold you back. Keep learning and master new occupations. You only have one life,” says Oleksandr.
Background
The project “Skills for inclusion: workplace training for the activation of vulnerable groups” is implemented by the NGO “Ukrainian Professional Development” with financial support from the European Union, Germany, Poland, Estonia and Denmark within the Multi Donor Initiative Skills4Recovery, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Solidarity Fund PL (SFPL).