Originally from the Mykolaiv region in Ukraine, Maryna and her family arrived in Poland in 2021. Her husband was having difficulty finding a job after undergoing heart surgery, so they had decided to relocate to Poland with their 14-year-old daughter Daria and their 11-year-old son Artem.
The war in Ukraine led them to stay in Poland more permanently. Unfortunately, this meant they would have to stay separated from their oldest son. As a university student, he was forced to abide by the travel restrictions placed on men ages 18 to 60.
While her husband resumed his career as a driver in Poland, Maryna began helping as an interpreter at the city hall, translating documents for Ukrainian refugees. It was a position that she found fulfilling, but it only lasted for a few months.
Maryna had always been career-minded. In Ukraine, she met her husband while working as a lab worker at a dairy farm. She then worked as a representative for the Avon cosmetics company, working her way up to become a shop owner with 70 employees. However, an unfortunate turn of events would cause her to stop working there.
“It happened that we had a car accident. Because of that accident, I could no longer work at full capacity… My legs, I couldn’t walk properly on my legs, and it had lasted for more than a year.”
In Poland, Maryna was hoping to work again when she came across a commercial for “One Step to Employment,” a job assistance program at the IRC-supported Integration and Support Center in Katowice. Just a few days after filling out the online application, she received a call from the center to set up a meeting.
Through the center, Maryna became connected to Snezhana, a job consultant, and Katarzyna, a psychologist, both of whom helped her shape her new career path.
“Snezhana helped me to create my resume and make corrections to it so that it was more accurate. We had my resume done professionally.”
“Katarzyna, who was our psychologist, was a very interesting person. Three sessions in three days were probably the most impressive thing I’ve ever done. And before that I didn’t have a trust in psychologists. But Katarzyna is such an energizer. It was the first time I’ve met someone who just inspired me. She was the leverage point.”
“The support that “One Step to Employment” gives us is really professional. Even taking into consideration CV writing, the first step you do. Then, you’re given a direction.”
With the support she received at the center, Maryna felt inspired to explore a career she had been considering for a while—a career as a tram driver. Yolanta, another job consultant at the center, helped Maryna to fill out the necessary documents for an employer of tram drivers , noting that she was recommended by a “One Step to Employment” consultant.
“I wanted to be a tram driver back in Ukraine. And now I’m here and I still want to be a tram driver. I’ve been nurturing this dream for a long time.”
Though Maryna had the backing of the center, at first, the employer didn’t know if they would be able to employ her.
“Regarding the situation with the trams, they simply didn’t know how to employ me . They dealt with Ukrainians for the first time, so they were wondering whether I would be able to understand and communicate in Polish. Then, when I was interviewed, the matter was whether I would be able to give change or explain something to passengers, for example. I said that it’s easy, I could do it.”
After the multi-step interview process, she soon found herself among 10 people chosen to continue on in the tram driver training course. If she passed the course, it would be free of charge as long as she continued working as a tram driver for the following three years. At the end of the course, there would be an internal exam and a driving test.
Maryna recalls it being a difficult time because she was exhausted from her studies, parenting her two children, and not making any income. In spite of these challenges, she stayed focused on learning the skills of becoming a tram driver. She was proud of herself when she passed the exam on her first attempt and when she passed the driving test.
“I realize that I did well, I studied, I believed in myself.”
“I’m happy and proud of myself. Moreover, the exam was in Polish and the instructor said I did great.”
She has enjoyed growing her skills and discovering Katowice in a new way. She is now in process of learning how to arrive at the right time to each stop and navigate the various tram lines.
“I like it when I drive and people look at you. The first few days of driving, I was only concentrating on rails and wires connection… A little bit later I started noticing the stops. After two weeks, I started noticing what I was passing by, at least, I finally saw the houses. It already felt like an excursion around Katowice.”
“My plan is to work and improve my skills here. Maybe I’ll become the best tram driver or driver of the year one day. We have a girl who was a candidate for instructor position and she became a tram driver of the year. I’ll try my best too.”
Maryna understands that there are many Ukrainian women like her in Poland now, seeking a job after leaving behind their war-torn communities. She knows many of them have also left their male relatives behind and are adjusting to life as refugees in a new country. Her biggest advice: don’t be afraid.
“I would just advise not to be afraid. Take small steps to achieve your goals. Clearly, the first thing they should do is to learn the language. Despite everything, language is a fundamental part of life.”
“All you need is to start, to take action. If you keep staying at home and feeling afraid, then what? If we teach children to keep learning something new, then we should also set an example. Don’t be afraid!”
