SUCCESS STORY: Ivan, 30 — from military service to a new profession
Case Study of the BLOOM Program
At the beginning of the full-scale war, Ivan Khrypko lived in Kharkiv, worked as a bartender, and studied programming. The war completely changed his life: he lost his job, was mobilized, and served in the army for almost a year.
After demobilization, Ivan decided to start from scratch. He enrolled at the Ukrainian State University of Science and Technology to study construction, aiming to contribute to the country’s rebuilding. While searching for opportunities to gain more practical skills, Ivan came across the course “Building the Future: Innovative Construction for a New Ukraine” under the BLOOM Program (Building Livelihoods and Opportunities for Optimised Markets) and decided to apply.
Within the program, implemented by a consortium of Swisscontact, Mercy Corps, International Rescue Committee (IRC), and Right to Protection (R2P) together with local partners GERZ Construction Association LLC and the Educational Alliance for Ukraine (EAUA), Ivan mastered areas not covered in his university curriculum. These included the basics of organizing construction and repair work, principles of housing restoration, and 3D modeling for project creation and visualization.
The skills he acquired are already opening up earning opportunities. Ivan updated his resume and plans to post it on freelance platforms to take on his first 3D modeling projects. He also aims to combine studies with work, gradually increasing his income and professional experience.
“I want to be part of the country’s reconstruction. This is work that has meaning and gives you the feeling that you are needed. I didn’t expect that in such a short time I would be able to create 3D projects on my own, but now I understand that after this training I can already start working and earning,” — says Ivan, a program participant in Dnipro.
Ivan during a practical lesson in construction work.
Ivan during the presentation of his work.
Ivan (center) at the graduation ceremony.