English translation of the original Finnish article

Original source: Sedu – Ukrainalaispariskunta löysi uuden alun Seinäjoelta

Ukrainians Olha and Oleksandr are a living example of how skills, motivation and the right kind of support can help people who have fled war build a new life. With the support of Sedu, Seinäjoki Central Hospital and the U2VET project, the Ukrainian couple found a new beginning in Seinäjoki. During their cleaning-services studies, the couple took part in a pilot period of the U2VET project coordinated by Sedu, which aims to support the integration of people who have fled Ukraine through vocational education and working life.

Both have now completed a vocational qualification in cleaning services and are planning their future in Seinäjoki – their new hometown.

The Project Aims for Sustainable Integration

Launched in October 2023, the Erasmus+ partnership project U2VET will continue until September 2026. Its key objective is to increase the participation of Ukrainian refugees in vocational education and working life in Finland. Together with employers, the project is developing new and flexible pathways that support both learning and employment.

Olha arrived in Finland in March 2022, and Oleksandr followed a little later. They left behind their home and jobs in Kyiv, where they had lived for more than eight years. In Finland, they first began studying the language at Sedu and then moved on to vocational studies in cleaning services.

Studies Brought Structure and Hope

The couple found their time studying at Sedu rewarding, and they especially appreciated the practical training. “At times, the period of study felt long, but it gave us a new direction,” says Oleksandr, who completed his studies on an accelerated schedule, making use of Moodle among other tools.

Language training played a central role in their integration. Oleksandr and Olha are particularly grateful to Sedu’s language trainers and teachers, who supported them from the very beginning. “You learn the language faster when you get to speak it at work, so colleagues also play an important role. Of course, dialect words can sometimes be challenging,” Oleksandr says with a laugh.

From Practical Training to Working Life – Support Makes a Difference

Both Olha and Oleksandr completed their practical training in different departments at Seinäjoki Central Hospital. The couple praised the working environment, equipment and cleaning methods, as well as the guidance and induction they received at the workplace. They felt warmly welcomed during their training, and their colleagues showed genuine interest in them. “Our colleagues asked about our backgrounds and genuinely wanted to get to know us,” Oleksandr and Olha say.

The additional resources provided by the U2VET project made a tangible difference: instructions were translated into Ukrainian, English and Russian, and the supervising teacher had more time to support the students. Workplace instructor Maria Alasaari says the arrangements worked well: “Basic instructions in the students’ own language and their own motivation go a long way, but support from the work community is also important.”

Oleksandr, Maria and Olha in a stairwell at Seinäjoki Central Hospital.

Maria Alasaari, service supervisor for cleaning services at Seinäjoki Central Hospital, has been very pleased with Oleksandr’s approach to his work.

Work Brings Security and Hope for the Future

Oleksandr was hired by the central hospital even before he graduated. He works in a hospital department in a variety of roles – including bed preparation, meal services and cleaning services – and appreciates the variety. “I am constantly gaining new experiences and learning more,” he says.

Maria, representing the workplace, has high praise for both Oleksandr and Olha: “They are both motivated and enthusiastic. I knew from the very beginning that working with them would go well. Although the language was a challenge at first, everything is going very well now.” In Maria’s view, students with immigrant backgrounds should definitely be offered practical training opportunities: “The guidance may require a little more effort, but the result is a skilled and committed employee – and that makes the effort worthwhile.”

Maria Alasaari has got to know Oleksandr and Olha well over the past year.

Putting Down Roots in Finland – and Pursuing Their Own Dreams

At present, the couple want to put down permanent roots in Seinäjoki. They enjoy Finnish nature, take weekly trips to the forest with their dogs and dream of owning a detached house. Oleksandr now has a full-time job at the central hospital, while Olha is self-employed as a nail technician. They run a small business from home, offering services such as gel nails and foot care – and they have plenty of clients. Olha also dreams of training other nail technicians in the future.

The couple’s two adult children and their son-in-law now also live in Seinäjoki and are studying Finnish at Sedu.

“We are truly grateful to Sedu and Seinäjoki Central Hospital. We have received good training and have been warmly welcomed. This is where we want to stay – and who knows, perhaps in the next few years we may become grandparents as well,” the couple say with a smile.

Oleksandr and Olha enjoy spending time outdoors with their dogs. The photo shows the couple on an outing with a group of Sedu students in 2024.