SUCCESS STORY. TETIANA, 57, IDP
BLOOM Programme Case
Tetiana is 57 years old. After her apartment building was hit by shelling twice, she was forced to
leave and start a new life in another community. Her apartment sustained significant damage:
shattered windows, a destroyed balcony unit, and issues with utility systems.
“I realised that my family’s safety comes first. Walls can be rebuilt — lives cannot,” she says.
Today, Tetiana is an internally displaced person. She is adapting to a new environment and a
different pace of life, yet her thoughts constantly return home. She assesses the situation
realistically: her apartment will require major repairs — replacing windows, restoring the
balcony, and improving insulation. Although she had no prior experience in renovation, she
decided she needed to understand the processes in order to speak the same language as
contractors.
With this goal, Tetiana joined the innovative construction training programme. At first, it felt
overwhelming: modern materials, energy-efficient solutions, and working with tools all seemed
complex. But step by step, she began to understand how things work. She learned how to assess
the extent of damage, work with construction materials, follow safety standards during interior
repairs, and plan energy-efficient solutions for her apartment.
A turning point came during the practical sessions. “When I installed a drywall structure on my
own for the first time in the training workshop, I felt that I was no longer helpless,” she recalls.
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), Tetiana now
has a clear plan for restoring her apartment. She knows which materials to choose, how to assess
the quality of work, and what to look for when working with contractors. Instead of fear in the
face of major repairs, she now has a structured plan and a clear budget.
“I’m no longer afraid of returning. I’m ready,” she says.
Tetiana is learning construction skills
Tetiana during her project presentation
Tetiana (centre) during the certificate award ceremony