SUCCESS STORY: SIMION, 73 years old, veteran
BLOOM Program Case Study
Behind Simion Fedorovych are years of service, decades of teaching, and hundreds of students he taught throughout his career. After retiring, he was elected as the head of the Homeowners’ Association (OSBB). With the outbreak of the war, this role took on a new meaning for him.
Following the shelling, the building where he lives suffered significant damage: shattered windows, a destroyed roof, and the need for urgent repairs. It was Simion who took on the responsibility of supervising contractors, checking estimates, and making decisions that the safety of the residents depended on.
“It was scary to make a mistake. Behind every number is the co-owners’ money, behind every decision is the safety of their families,” he admits.
At 73, Simion enrolled in the construction and recovery training program “Building the Future: Innovative Construction for a New Ukraine” by the BLOOM Program (Building Livelihoods and Opportunities for Optimised Markets) to better understand construction processes and effectively protect the community’s interests. Initially, this decision surprised even his loved ones, but he was convinced: responsible management of rebuilding processes requires proper knowledge.
Thanks to the program implemented by a consortium involving Swisscontact, Mercy Corps, International Rescue Committee (IRC), and Right to Protection (R2P) together with local partners “GERC Building Association” LLC and the Education Alliance for Ukraine (EAUA), Simion Fedorovych systematically familiarized himself with modern materials, insulation technologies, principles of safe restoration of damaged structures, and the logic of estimating.
The acquired knowledge changed the format of his interaction with contractors — from formal to partnership-based. Today, he confidently discusses technical details, asks well-founded questions, and defends the residents’ interests. This helped avoid unjustified expenses during the restoration work and improved the quality of the completed repairs.
Simion in the learning space, where he studies digital technologies and the basics of construction and restoration work.
Today, residents see him not just as the head of the Homeowners’ Association, but as a competent leader who understands technical processes and makes balanced decisions for the safety of the community.
“I always told my students that learning is a lifelong process. Now I am proving it by my own example. I no longer feel lost when it comes to construction — now I know what questions to ask and what needs to be done,” he says with a smile.
Simion (center) during the presentation of the certificate.