A Ukrainian woman who recently studied with the Further Education and Training (FET) Service of Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB), says the support begins from the moment you walk in the door.
Mum of two Yuliia Vaniukova, who left her home city of Kyiv with her family, is now working to rebuild her career in Letterkenny.
Despite being an accountant in Ukraine, Yuliia faced the difficult task of learning the Irish tax system and law before she can work here. She understood she needed to get an accounting certification approved by the Irish authorities.
“First of all, I was met with great help and support by the Irish people. My goal then was to realise my professional life as quickly as possible,” Yuliia said of her first months in Ireland.
Yuliia’s education journey began at a Donegal ETB FET Fair, where she met tutor Marguerite McGee. Encouraged by Marguerite, Yuliia enrolled in a payroll programme. This was the crucial first step towards her professional reintegration.
She then embarked on the ACCA Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting, a Level 3 programme delivered over two evenings per week, from 6pm-10pm, which allowed Yuliia to complete her studies while working part-time.
“I enjoyed this course indeed, I met really high-level professional tutors, Claire Curran and Marguerite McGee,” she said.
“The support started from the reception, when you come to Donegal ETB it is a special atmosphere.”
Yuliia benefitted from IT support and, in all her years of education, some of the best tutoring she has encountered.
“Marguerite not only taught the educational material but worried about each student as her own child,” she said.
Marguerite McGee and Yuliia Vaniukova
After completing two courses, Yuliia’s only wish was that there were more!
“Now I’m preparing for my exams on my own, and it’s much more difficult to go without courses and support of ETB. If I could continue my studies with ETB courses, it would be awesome!” she said.
“My ETB studies gave me an excellent understanding of local taxation principles, which help me in my Irish work experiences,” she said.
Yuliia’s first job in Ireland was a part-time role at Letterkenny Community Development Project (CDP), which she did alongside her ETB evening courses.
“I am grateful to the management and colleagues at CDP for their care and support, and interesting projects I was involved in during my time there. Everyone there is like one big family, where there is an atmosphere of ease, acceptance and support for everyone regardless of nationality, personal history and other differences,” she said.
After completing her evening course, Yuliia moved into full-time employment with Bonner Gill Company – Accounting & Auditing Services Donegal.
“There I met highly qualified professionals who I learn from day by day, and I’m so grateful for their support and patience, and hopefully I will become fully qualified accountant,” she said.
“If anyone needs high standard services in Accounting and Audit, I’m happy to invite you to our company’s website bonnergill.com.”
Yuliia counts herself fortunate to have the support of her husband and mother while working and studying in Ireland. Her childhood home in Mariupol was sadly destroyed.
“Unfortunately, there is nowhere to go back to. For now, my priority is to make a peaceful future for my children,” she said.
Yuliia is a firm believer in education as a step towards job security and recommends Donegal ETB not only for qualifications but for boundless encouragement.
She said: “The knowledge which you can receive from Donegal ETB will be high quality and very useful in your professional life, you will receive great support for your self-confidence.
“It’s not only about knowledge, it’s about attitude and great support. It’s your ticket to your future.”
If you’re thinking about upskilling, reskilling or changing career in 2025, Donegal ETB’s FET Service currently has a wide range of evening courses available. Check out your options on their website (https://www.donegaletb.ie/fetcoursefinder – use the word evening as your keyword) or call their Letterkenny Training Centre on 074 91 20500 to find out more.
If you are in employment (full-time, part-time or self-employed), you may be eligible for a fee waiver or reduced course fees (under the Skills to Advance initiative). Contact the Letterkenny Training Centre for further details.
If you are in receipt of a DSP payment, you may be eligible for a fee waiver. Contact your local Intreo office for a direct referral.
Fees apply otherwise.
Tugann ETB Dhún na nGall bealach ar ais chuig an obair do Chuntasóir darb ainm Yuliia
Deir bean ón Úcráin a rinne staidéar le Seirbhís Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna (FET) Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna (ETB) Dhún na nGall ar na mallaibh, go dtosaíonn an tacaíocht ón bhomaite a shiúlann tú fríd an doras.
Tá Yuliia Vaniukova, máthair beirte, a d’fhág a cathair dhúchais, Civ, lena teaghlach, ag cur a gairm bheatha le chéile arís, i Leitir Ceanainn.
Cé gur chuntasóir í san Úcráin, bhí sé deacair ag Yuliia cáinchóras agus dlí na hÉireann a fhoghlaim sula dtiocfadh léi a bheith ag obair anseo. Thuig sí go raibh uirthi deimhniú cuntasaíochta a fháil a bheadh faofa ag údaráis na hÉireann.
“Ar dtús, thug muintir na hÉireann cuidiú agus tacaíocht iontach dom. Ba é an sprioc a bhí agam ansin ná saol gairmiúil a bhaint amach chomh gasta agus a thiocfadh liom,” a dúirt Yuliia faoina céad míonna in Éirinn.
Thosaigh turas oideachais Yuliia ag Aonach FET ETB Dhún na nGall, áit ar bhuail sí le Marguerite McGee, duine de na teagascóirí. Spreag Marguerite í le clárú ar chlár párolla. Ba é seo an chéad chéim ríthábhachtach di agus í ar a bealach ar ais chuig an saol gairmiúil.
Thug sí faoi Dhioplóma CCDC i gCuntasaíocht Airgeadais agus Bhainistíochta ansin, clár Leibhéal 3 a sheachadtar thar dhá thráthnóna in aghaidh na seachtaine, ó 6pm-10pm, a thug deis do Yuliia a cuid staidéir a chríochnú agus í ag obair go páirtaimseartha.
“Is cinnte gur bhain mé sult as an chúrsa seo, bhuail mé leis na teagascóirí gairmiúla ardleibhéil, Claire Curran agus Marguerite McGee,” a dúirt sí.
“Thosaigh an tacaíocht ón tús, tá atmaisféar speisialta le mothú nuair a thagann tú chuig ETB Dhún na nGall.”
Bhain Yuliia leas as tacaíocht TF agus as cuid den teagasc is fearr a fuair sí, le linn a blianta oideachais ar fad.
“Ní hamháin gur theagasc Marguerite an t-ábhar oideachais ach bhí sí buartha faoi gach mac léinn mar a bheadh sí faoina páiste féin,” a dúirt sí.
I ndiaidh di dhá chúrsa a chríochnú, ba é an t-aon mhian a bhí ag Yuliia ná go mbeadh níos mó cúrsaí ann!
“Anois tá mé ag ullmhú do na scrúduithe liom féin, agus tá sé i bhfad níos deacra gan cúrsaí agus tacaíocht ETB. Dá dtiocfadh liom leanúint ar aghaidh le mo chuid staidéir le cúrsaí ETB, bheadh sé iontach!” a dúirt sí.
“Thug mo chuid staidéir ETB tuiscint iontach dom ar phrionsabail chánachais áitiúil, rud a chuidíonn liom le mo thaithí oibre in Éirinn,” a dúirt sí.
Ba é an chéad phost a bhí ag Yuliia in Éirinn ná ról páirtaimseartha ag Tionscadal Forbartha Pobail Leitir Ceanainn (TFP), rud a rinne sí in éineacht lena cúrsaí oíche ETB.
“Tá mé buíoch de lucht bainistíochta agus na comhghleacaithe ag TFP as a gcúram agus a dtacaíocht, agus as na tionscadail shuimiúla a raibh baint agam leo le linn mo chuid ama ann. Tá sé mar a bheadh teaghlach mór amháin ann, áit a bhfuil atmaisféar sócúlachta, inghlacthachta agus tacaíochta do gach duine beag beann ar náisiúntacht, stair phearsanta agus difríochtaí eile,” a dúirt sí.
I ndiaidh di a cúrsa tráthnóna a chríochnú, fuair Yuliia fostaíocht lánaimseartha le Bonner Gill Company – Cuntasaíocht & Seirbhísí Iniúchóireachta Dhún na nGall.
“Bhuail mé le gairmithe ardcháilithe ansin agus foghlaimím uathu ó lá go lá, agus tá mé chomh buíoch as a dtacaíocht agus a bhfoighne, agus tá súil agam go mbeidh mé i mo chuntasóir láncháilithe,” a dúirt sí.
“Má tá seirbhísí ardchaighdeáin i gCuntasaíocht agus Iniúchadh de dhíth ar dhuine ar bith, mholfainn dóibh amharc ar shuíomh gréasáin ár gcuideachta bonnergill.com.”
Creideann Yuliia go bhfuil an t-ádh uirthi go bhfuil tacaíocht a fear céile agus a máthair aici agus í ag obair agus ag staidéar in Éirinn. Ar an drochuair scriosadh teach a hóige i Mariupol.
“Ar an drochuair, níl aon áit le dul ar ais chuici. Is é an tosaíocht atá agam, ag an bhomaite, ná todhchaí shíochánta a chinntiú do mo pháistí,” a dúirt sí.
Creideann Yuliia go láidir san oideachas mar chéim i dtreo chinnteacht phoist agus molann sí ETB Dhún na nGall ní hamháin do cháilíochtaí ach don síorspreagadh.
Dúirt sí: “Beidh an t-eolas atá ar fáil ó ETB Dhún na nGall ar ardchaighdeán agus an-úsáideach i do shaol gairmiúil, gheobhaidh tú an-tacaíocht le d’fhéinmhuinín.
“Ní bhaineann sé le heolas amháin, baineann sé le dearcadh agus tacaíocht iontach. Sin do thicéad do do thodhchaí.”
Má tá tú ag smaoineamh ar uas-sciliú, ar athoiliúint nó ar ghairm a athrú in 2025, tá raon leathan cúrsaí oíche ar fáil ag Seirbhís FET ETB Dhún na nGall faoi láthair. Seiceáil do roghanna ar a suíomh gréasáin (https://www.donegaletb.ie/fetcoursefinder – úsáid an focal tráthnóna mar d’eochairfhocal) nó cuir scairt ar Ionad Oiliúna Leitir Ceanainn ar 074 91 20500 chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil.
Má tá tú i bhfostaíocht (lánaimseartha, páirtaimseartha nó féinfhostaithe), d’fhéadfá a bheith i dteideal tarscaoileadh táille nó táillí cúrsa laghdaithe (faoin tionscnamh Scileanna le Dul Chun Cinn). Déan teagmháil le hIonad Oiliúna Leitir Ceanainn le haghaidh tuilleadh sonraí.
Má tá íocaíocht ón RCS á fáil agat, d’fhéadfá a bheith i dteideal tarscaoileadh táille. Déan teagmháil le d’oifig áitiúil Intreo le haghaidh atreorú díreach.
Beidh táillí le híoc seachas sin.
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