A vocational training college in Odesa that helped internally displaced people rebuild their lives has been severely damaged by Russian attacks, disrupting vital skills training at a time when livelihoods remain under immense strain.
The Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college was a key partner in the programme Empowering Southern Ukraine’s Workforce, launched in 2024 and funded by Cegos Group, with implementation by GlocalShift and Progressive & Strong. The programme supports labour market recovery in southern Ukraine by helping internally displaced people and young people gain practical skills and access employment opportunities.
Before the attacks, the college provided reskilling opportunities in professions such as bakery and cooking. For participants who had lost their homes, jobs, and sources of income due to the war, the training offered a pathway towards stability and independence.
But the college was bombed twice by Russian forces, causing severe structural damage and forcing training activities to stop. The destruction of educational infrastructure has become a major barrier to recovery, limiting access to skills and employment for communities already facing displacement and economic hardship.
“Vocational training is essential for recovery,” Bohdan Ferens Founder, Progrssive & Strong said. “It gives people the tools to rebuild their livelihoods, support their families, and contribute to their communities. When these facilities are destroyed, recovery becomes even more difficult.”
Despite the damage, efforts are now underway to restore the college. With initial support from Cegos Group, GlocalShift and Progressive & Strong are planning rehabilitation work to enable training to resume and expand access to vocational education for those who need it most.
Across southern Ukraine, thousands of people remain displaced and face significant barriers to employment. Many have lost not only their homes, but also their professions and economic security. Skills training plays a critical role in helping people regain income, rebuild confidence, and restore a sense of normalcy.
Restoring the TVET college will help ensure that displaced people and local youth can access training opportunities and participate in Ukraine’s economic recovery.
However, additional support is urgently needed to fully rehabilitate the facility and restore its training capacity.
GlocalShift is calling on donors and partners to support the rehabilitation effort and help ensure that vocational training can continue.
“Recovery is not only about rebuilding infrastructure,” Bohdan Ferens Founder, Progrssive & Strong said. “It is about restoring opportunity, dignity, and hope for people whose lives have been disrupted by war.” The Empowering Southern Ukraine’s Workforce programme will continue through 2026, supporting communities affected by conflict with skills training and pathways to employment, helping lay the foundations for long-term recovery.
