Ukrainian refugees in Lincoln earn manufacturing certificates in training course

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Ukrainian refugees in Lincoln have been taking special classes to learn about the local manufacturing industry.

On Tuesday, 12 Ukrainian refugees received certificates from the Lincoln Manufacturing Council.

They took part in a three-week course that was taught in their native language by two Ukrainian employees at Kawasaki.

Chloe Higgins with the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development explained how the group really came together and bonded over these courses.

“It’s been really exciting to see just the camaraderie that’s formed in this group,” she said. “They are laughing all the time during the class and even in a class about manufacturing that’s not always super exciting. It’s really cool to see that they’re getting along and that they have community and they feel connected to something.”

Alla Polischuk, a Ukrainian Refugee, explained through a translator that the program helped the group learn about manufacturing jobs around Lincoln.

“They want to be involved in the community and they wanna be involved in the workforce and make a difference here in Lincoln,” she said.

While the certificate is a start for the Ukrainians, they all still must wait for their work permits to be accepted before they can be employed.

But, the face-to-face time they got with prospective employers, will be invaluable to them in the future, Higgins said.