Asan fled the war in Ukraine and arrived in Ireland in the autumn of 2022. His first place of residence was the Dundrum House Hotel, where he received support to improve his English language skills and successfully completed the SAFE PASS course, which was facilitated by Ukrainian Support workers from STDC in November. The support from STDC was invaluable for Asan. Ukrainian Support workers provided him with the resources and training he needed to adjust to his new surroundings, helping him to settle in and build a future. Their dedication to helping refugees like him made it easier for Asan to join the workforce and gave him the confidence to chase his dream of starting his own business.
Given Asan’s extensive experience in interior finishing, he worked at the hotel restoring rooms for newly arrived Ukrainians. Thoughts of starting his own business never left Asan’s mind, and soon, that dream became a reality. He opened his own business, primarily focusing on bathroom and kitchen renovations, as well as other types of interior and exterior work. Since the spring, Asan has hired another Ukrainian who also completed the SAFE PASS course organized by STDC. As he began working for himself, Asan met other professionals specializing in plumbing and electrical work, which significantly expanded the range of services his company could offer.
Asan is actively learning about new materials and technologies that are common in this country. This is not easy when your level of English is not high enough, but he is making an effort. “Starting to work in Ireland, I could never have imagined how my life would unfold. Now I can say that if you have a strong desire and put in the effort, you can always succeed; it may not happen right away, but it will come with time.” Currently, Asan has no issues finding work or clients. After working for about a year as a sole trader, he is now able to be independent from social welfare and is considering relocating, as bigger cities offer more opportunities.
