Andrii Shein has been working at Zaporizhstal for ten years. During this time, he has gained considerable experience, taught himself new skills and helped his colleagues to develop, whilst also getting involved in youth and voluntary initiatives at his company and in Zaporizhzhia.

To mark All-Ukrainian Youth Day, his contribution to the development of the city’s youth movement and his active civic engagement were recognised with a Certificate of Honour from the Executive Committee of Zaporizhzhia City Council.

Today, Andrii is an experienced maintenance fitter in the hot rolling shop at Zaporizhstal: he has been working at the plant for ten years and, in this relatively short time, has earned the sincere respect of his colleagues. But he admits that he remembers well how he was finding his feet in the profession as a young professional. 

"My mum was working at Zaporizhstal at the time, so she was the one who suggested I try my hand at working there. At first, I studied at the Zaporizhzhia Metallurgical College, where I trained as a mechanic. When I got a job at Zaporizhstal, I immediately enrolled at the Zaporizhzhia State Engineering Academy, where I was already studying to become a metallurgical engineer, as I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of the process technology,” says Andrii.

After completing his studies, he joined the hot rolling shop and began working as a maintenance fitter in the power services department. Over the years, he has held various roles, including foreman and supervisor in the power services department, and worked as a lead engineer in the maintenance and repair department. However, he has returned to his original profession.

"For me, my profession isn’t just a job; it’s a process of finding solutions. I seek answers not only to the question of why equipment might fail, but also the reverse – I analyse why, despite instability or malfunctions, it operates reliably, and what exactly ensures this consistency. Applying effective solutions in equipment maintenance and discarding unsuccessful ones – that is my job.”

Andrii acquired his first professional skills thanks to his colleagues, who were keen to share their experience and help him get to grips with the job. In his own words, it was the variety of tasks and the opportunity to learn from experienced staff that helped him become a confident professional. 

Today, Andrii Shein is himself one of the more experienced specialists in the team. His senior colleagues regard him as an equal, whilst his juniors often turn to him for advice. 

Community involvement has become an integral part of Andrii’s life at the plant. He joined the plant’s youth organisation almost immediately after starting work. Over the years he has spent in the youth organisation, he has been entrusted with various important tasks: organising scientific and technical conferences, sporting events and family celebrations as part of corporate projects.

At the same time, voluntary work became another area of focus for the young man, one that constantly evolved in line with people’s needs but never ceased to exist. In 2022, the focus was primarily on supporting internally displaced persons, whilst from 2023 onwards, the focus shifted to assisting the military. 

For Andrii, community work is, above all, an opportunity to be of use, to interact with different people and to tackle new challenges together. 

“I take a responsible approach to volunteering, just as I do to my work tasks. And generally speaking, I use the same approach in these spheres, which at first glance seem quite different: I understand the essence of the request for help, the expectations, and what needs to be done step by step to meet them – and together with other activists, we get down to work,” says Andrii.

The Zaporizhstal employee is convinced that young people may be very different, but they are united by shared values and a desire for development.

"In my view, it’s important to channel young people’s energy into positive, worthwhile and exciting things, and to help them see opportunities for growth and fulfilment. There are no unmotivated young people in Ukraine; they are all intelligent and quick-witted – it’s just that everyone needs to find their own path and be motivated. The main thing is to set clear goals for yourself, understand what you’re striving for, and move forward consistently." 

This year, Andrii’s professional and community achievements have also been recognised by the city council. He received a Certificate of Honour from the Executive Committee for his work. However, he sees this award not so much as a personal achievement, but as the result of collaborative work within a team of like-minded people. 

"We can take action – and change our workplace, our home and our city for the better. Or we can do nothing – and watch as others put their ideas into practice. I’m delighted that my contribution to our shared cause has been noticed and recognised. I’m grateful to everyone with whom we’re working together to bring initiatives for the city’s development to life!" says Andrii Shein with conviction.