The She Drives project participants continue meeting with employers
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The She Drives project participants gathered on the territory of the Kyivpastrans municipal enterprise. Photo: She Drives/Iryna Oliinyk
On April 29, participants in the She Drives project, which focuses on training and employing female bus drivers, visited partner organizations FlixBus and the municipal enterprise Kyivpastrans. This meeting with potential employers is part of a pilot initiative aimed at encouraging women to enter the transportation sector. The project's main goal is not only to train female drivers but also to secure their employment with both municipal and private enterprises.
Tetiana Zherebetska, a participant in the She Drives project from Lviv, tests her skills behind the wheel of a FlixBus bus. Photo: Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine
“Currently, the transport sector in Ukraine faces a significant shortage of personnel, affecting both municipal transportation and private companies. Involving women in this sector is not just about achieving gender equality; it is vital for the economic recovery of our country. For instance, the global participation rate of women in driving public transport is around 19%, while in Ukraine, it is less than 1%. Therefore, the goal of the She Drives project is to highlight success stories that challenge gender stereotypes and promote the hiring of women. The initiative aims to encourage companies to develop their own training programs and inspire women to consider careers in the transport sector,” emphasized Serhiy Derkach, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine.
The visit was joined by Sabine Freizer Gunes, UN Women Representative in Ukraine, Kateryna Datsko, Executive Director of the Foundation for Institutional Development, and Orysia Hrymak, Business Development Manager of FlixBus in Ukraine.
Sabine Freizer Gunes, UN Women Representative in Ukraine, during a meeting with participants of the She Drives project at the Kyivpastrans municipal enterprise. Photo: She Drives/Iryna Oliinyk
“In Ukraine, only about 50% of women of working age are currently employed. However, there is a growing demand for more women to join the workforce, especially in jobs that previously mainly men carried out. To address this need, UN Women, in collaboration with the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, is supporting the She Drives project. This initiative aims to train and qualify women as bus drivers, enabling them to secure jobs and operate buses for local municipalities and companies providing intercity transportation. Upon completing the project, 100 women will become leaders in Ukraine's transport sector, contributing to its further development. The She Drives project aligns with our overall message to all women in Ukraine: ‘Of course, you can!’” emphasized Sabine Freizer Gunes, UN Women Representative in Ukraine.
During the meeting, participants learned about job opportunities at FlixBus partner companies, salary expectations, and route networks. They also discussed the requirements for working on international flights.
Kateryna Datsko, Executive Director of the Foundation for Institutional Development. Photo: She Drives/Mariia Poshyvailo
During our visit to Kyivpastrans, the group explored the working conditions at the municipal transport enterprise, the qualifications needed for drivers, the specifics of the work schedule, and available internship opportunities.
Most importantly, participants tested their skills while driving FlixBus and Kyivpastrans buses.
Test drive of Kyivpastrans buses by the She Drives participants. Photo: She Drives/Iryna Oliinyk
Currently, over 100 women are participating in the project, with more than 10 having successfully passed the exam and obtained a category D driver's license.
"In times of challenge, mobility becomes especially significant as it offers opportunities for unification, development, and new beginnings. At Flix, we believe it is essential to participate in initiatives that create new opportunities for people. Everyone deserves the right to choose their profession without prejudice, and we are pleased to support those who are willing to embark on new journeys," stated Orysia Hrymak, Business Development Manager at FlixBus.
Orysia Hrymak, Business Development Manager at FlixBus. Photo: She Drives/Mariia Poshyvailo
The She Drives project was launched on September 4 of last year, initiated by the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine in partnership with UN Women in Ukraine. The project started with an application call for women interested in changing their profession to become bus drivers. It offers both theoretical and practical training to obtain the necessary driver's license, along with the Code 95 training for the top participants. The project involves 11 regions across Ukraine. Participants have already taken study visits to potential employers, including the Zelenyi Slon 7 company and the Central Bus Station in Kyiv.
The project "Expanding the professional potential of women in the field of passenger transportation" is being implemented by the NGO Foundation for Institutional Development on the initiative of the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, in partnership with UN Women and under the financial support of Sweden.