Construction is a field that, until recently, many still considered "not for women." But modern Ukraine proves the opposite. The war, reconstruction, rapid urban development, and technological progress have underscored the genuine need for female specialists who combine technical expertise, creativity, and a refined sense of detail.
The students of the "Construction and Civil Engineering" program at Lutsk National Technical University are a generation of young women engineers who are already shaping a new vision for the industry. Their stories resonate with the goals of the international Erasmus+ KA2 project "ConstructHer Future," which is implemented at LNTU and aims to strengthen the role of women in the construction sector.
Steel beams don't care about the gender of the person who designs them. Construction is an opportunity to leave a mark on the world, and there is nothing "unfeminine" about it, says Anhelina Komarynets.
A few years ago, like most graduates, I faced a difficult choice of future profession. I had always been able to draw — since childhood, it was my way of expressing myself. Naturally, I dreamed of becoming a designer; I saw creativity, aesthetics, and visual thinking as something deeply connected to who I was. But life made its adjustments: the only tuition-free place I won was in the "Construction and Civil Engineering" program. And suddenly, I faced a real dilemma: follow my dream and study design on a paid basis, or choose construction and take the chance to study for free.
Ultimately, I decided to pursue both paths simultaneously: I enrolled in two programs concurrently — design and construction. However, after the first semester, I consciously chose to focus on only one - construction. Why? Because I realized that this profession is just as creative as design. But at the same time, it is more practical, more stable, and — most importantly — necessary. Especially now, when Ukraine is going through difficult times, we must begin thinking about how to rebuild the country.
Now I am already a 4th-year student at LNTU and simultaneously working in my field. I appreciate that I can apply theory in practice, participate in real projects, and develop not only as an engineer but also as a person shaping the space around me. Yes, it involves numbers, drawings, and structures. But it's also about creation, vision, and influencing the real world. And it truly doesn't matter whether you are a man or a woman. Steel beams don't choose the gender of the person who designs them.
Sometimes it's challenging — because the stereotype that construction engineering is "not a woman's job" still exists. But in reality, this is precisely the place where women can prove themselves just as well as men.
My story is about choosing not according to stereotypes, but according to meaning. Construction has become more than just a major for me — it is an opportunity to create, to change, to influence. And I sincerely encourage girls who are now facing the same choice: do not be afraid of technical fields. Choose what has purpose, prospects, and the power to change the future.
Construction is not just a profession. It is a chance to leave a mark on the world. And there is nothing "unfeminine" about it.
"When I saw the news about destroyed homes, I realized: I want to be among those who will rebuild our country," says Alina Sakovets.
Since childhood, I have been fascinated by construction. It was always interesting to watch a building rise from an empty plot, as new walls, roofs, and windows appeared. I loved drawing buildings, imagining how I would design them, and I was always amazed by the idea that you can create something that will serve people for many years.
But the final decision to connect my life with this profession came during the war. When the full-scale invasion began in Ukraine, I, like many of my peers, found myself facing a critical choice. News about destroyed houses, schools, and hospitals struck painfully in the heart. That was the moment I realized: I want to be among those who will rebuild our country.
For me, the profession of a civil engineer is about restoring what was destroyed, creating something new, and taking responsibility for people's comfort and safety. It is a profession that combines creativity, precise calculations, and the ability to work with people.
Today, I am already in my 4th year of studies, gaining theoretical knowledge and practical experience. I am confident that after victory, Ukraine will need young, motivated specialists, and I want to be one of those who will build a new, modern, strong Ukraine.
"The most valuable feeling is when your project becomes a real home for a person who has lost theirs. Realizing that you gave someone a chance for a new life — it's incredible," says Sofiia Trokhymchuk.
My name is Sofiia Trokhymchuk, and I am currently studying in my 4th year, majoring in "Construction and Civil Engineering."
In 2022, when the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, I, like many of my peers, found myself at a crossroads. Until February, I still didn't know what I wanted to dedicate my life to. But the war changed everything — not only around us, but also inside each of us. A clear understanding appeared in my heart: I don't just want to live in Ukraine — I want to help rebuild it.
Looking at the scale of destruction, I became seriously interested in construction for the first time. At that moment, I realized the importance of the role of a civil engineer in society. This is the profession that has the power not only to create from scratch but also to restore after tragedies. That is how I made my choice — a conscious and sincere one.
There were no family members or friends of mine who worked in this field. This was a decision of my heart, not one influenced by someone else's advice or opinion.
I entered university in 2022 to study civil engineering, and every day, I have been more convinced that I made the right choice. This profession is challenging, responsible, and extremely important. For me, being a civil engineer means the ability to foresee, organize, and take responsibility for the safety, comfort, and future of people.
Today, I already have practical experience — for over nine months, I have been working as a project designer while balancing my work with my studies. I have already fulfilled my first major dream: I independently created a complete project for a residential house. This project is significant not only for me, but also for my client. In 2022, his home was destroyed by a missile strike. I designed a new project for him, and now this house is almost completed. It is an incredible feeling — knowing that your work has a tangible impact, that thanks to your knowledge and effort, someone has received a chance for a new life.
This experience strengthened my desire to grow in this profession. The construction sector in Ukraine is a field that needs young, motivated specialists. In the post-war period, the profession of a civil engineer will become even more important: we will have to rebuild infrastructure, modernize cities, build housing, hospitals, and schools, and do it better than before.
I am pleased to remain part of this critical mission today. In the future, I aim to continue moving forward — to design, build, and grow as a professional, and to contribute to the reconstruction of a strong, modern, and comfortable Ukraine.
"Playgrounds are also a construction. They are spaces where children grow and develop. And I'm happy to create these places," says Karyna Vorozheikina.
I'll tell you how I ended up here, in this field and this specialty.
We, girls, are usually creative personalities, so yes, I loved drawing and inventing things since childhood. My parents knew that the best gift for me wasn't a Barbie doll, but a LEGO set. I enjoyed creating small houses for my toys, as well as larger ones — made from chairs and blankets — for myself.
Thanks to my father's profession — he is an electrician — I often had the chance to see with my own eyes what apartments and houses look like in the middle stages of construction. I was always curious: what? How? with what and why…? So, in general, the world of construction has always been around me.
When it was time to choose a profession, I considered not only what I liked, but also the practicality and demand. Considering the situation in the country, I decided that the best option would be to enroll in the "Construction and Civil Engineering" program.
In reality, the studies were interesting and full of events. I love remembering how scared we were of the very first exam session — although it wasn't that frightening after all. Our first coursework projects, excursions, experiments, and failures… Time passed, and I already wanted more practice and some real work.
I believe that we often find ourselves "in the right place at the right time," and that's precisely why, in the 3rd year, the director of Urban Monkeys came to one of our classes to offer a vacancy for a playground designer. I decided I had to try — why not?
A year has passed, and I've realized that I enjoy this even more than designing buildings and structures. Playgrounds are also an essential part of construction.
A civil engineer is a person who builds the foundation of a country's future, shaping its development and ensuring safety for future generations. As a playground designer, I also contribute to this future — I create spaces where our children grow, play, and develop. I'm glad to be part of a team that brings happiness to children.
Choosing the specialty of "Construction and Civil Engineering" provided me with solid knowledge, a broad view of the industry, and the opportunity to find myself in a direction that truly inspires me.
"Construction is promising, diverse, and much more interesting than just 'laying bricks,'" says Yuliia Vozniuk.
In 2022, I was faced with a difficult decision — which major to choose and who I wanted to be in the future. At first, I considered international relations and similar fields, but one day my father told me that LNTU had a program called "Construction and Civil Engineering." Honestly, at first I was skeptical about this idea. Later, I decided to read more about the program — what kind of work one could do after graduation and what career prospects it offered. From that moment, I became genuinely interested in this specialty.
Then began the decision-making process, and I realized that I enjoy working with numbers, that I'm curious about construction — something I was constantly observing outside my window — and that, overall, construction is an up-and-coming and diverse field that goes far beyond simply laying bricks. That's how I chose my future profession :)
After enrollment, it felt quite unusual to realize that out of the entire group, there were only six girls. However, despite that, our group turned out to be very friendly — we constantly supported and helped one another.
During our studies, our lecturers organized excursions whenever possible. One of the first visits was to the "Lichter Beton" concrete and mortar manufacturing plant. We also repeatedly visited construction sites, where various technological processes and building details were explained to us in depth.
What I especially appreciate is that we are taught to work with specialized software that will be genuinely useful in our future careers. Another interesting aspect of the learning process was when each student developed a landscaping plan for the area near the city council in Berestechko — it gave us the chance to try our hand at design and apply our knowledge in practice.
At the end of the third year, I completed my professional training at the BTI, where I later stayed to work for some time. We went on field measurements, prepared drawings, and completed technical documentation. Thanks to my knowledge of AutoCAD and the theoretical foundation gained during my studies, I also gained experience in remote work.
Do you know if I like the specialty I chose? Definitely yes.
These five stories paint a portrait of a new generation of Ukrainian women civil engineers. They entered the profession for different reasons: a childhood fascination, the search for a practical way to apply their talents, the war, and the desire to help rebuild their country.
Yet today each of them is already making a meaningful contribution: some design residential buildings, others design playgrounds, and some work on real projects for people who have lost their homes.
Construction is not about gender. It is about responsibility, resilience, and the desire to shape the future. And these young women prove that women in construction are not an exception — they are the new norm.
#ErasmusPlus #ConstructHerFuture #EmpowerWomen #VETexcellence #InclusiveFuture
