SUCCESS STORY. IRYNA, 38, IDP
BLOOM Programme Case
Iryna had extensive management experience in the construction sector: she worked with project
documentation, coordinated processes, and made key decisions. However, she felt that to take the
next step, she needed a deeper technical understanding.
“There is currently a shortage of specialists, as many men are serving on the front line. I often have
to make complex technical decisions on-site myself. I want not only to manage processes from the
office but to understand every detail of construction from within, so that I can speak the same
language as the workers,” she explains. It was with this goal that Iryna joined the BLOOM
Programme training.
Prior to the project, Iryna already had a degree in management and experience in overseeing
construction processes. After completing the training, her competencies expanded significantly:
she mastered the use of tools, deepened her knowledge of construction assembly technologies, and
began confidently using SketchUp to visualise solutions and verify technical details.
Today, she not only manages projects but also has a much stronger practical understanding of
technological processes. This has increased her confidence when working directly on-site,
accelerated decision-making, and strengthened her authority within the team.
“Today, a specialist needs to be versatile. When you understand how a wall is built or how tools
work, you can manage at a completely different level,” Iryna shares.
With the support of the BLOOM consortium — Swisscontact, Mercy Corps, the International
Rescue Committee (IRC), and Right to Protection (R2P) — together with local partners GERZ
Construction Association LLC and the Educational Alliance for Ukraine (EAUA), Iryna expanded
her technical expertise, strengthened her management competencies, and gained practical skills
that she is already applying in her daily work.
At the same time, she became a true leader within her group: she generously shared her experience,
supported her peers, and fostered an atmosphere of trust and mutual support. Her example
demonstrates that it is never too late to learn, and that a modern woman can successfully combine
managing large-scale projects with deep technical expertise.
Iryna on a construction site