Interview with Alina Shadura: "I was able to do it. I drive a huge bus"

Alina Shadura (44) from Kharkiv. She is a lawyer by profession who has long worked for a charitable foundation providing psychosocial support to women who have suffered from gender-based violence. After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, Alina and her family moved to Cherkasy, where she has lived for three years.

What was the main impetus for joining the She Drives project?

I saw an ad for a job for women to retrain as a bus driver and became interested. I have been driving a car (category “B”) for 4.5 years, and I really like it. I used to be afraid to get behind the wheel, but over time I realized that driving a car brings me pleasure.

When I saw the ad, I decided that I wanted to try it. I was motivated by the opportunity to help people, because there is a war going on right now, there are not enough men, and the transport sector is in great demand for specialists. It is also a personal challenge for me to overcome my fear of large-sized transport. I see this as a prospect for my future professional activity, because I want to do something that is useful for society, brings income, and gives me the opportunity to travel.

Did you have any doubts before taking this step? What exactly? How did you overcome them?

The first fear was the size of the bus. It was something new and incomprehensible to me. But I used to be a professional athlete, I was involved in skiing and biathlon, so I know that when it’s scary, you have to go forward.

There was no special support from my loved ones, because at first I didn’t tell anyone. And when I did, I heard: “Mom is crazy, why do you need it?”. But I knew that I wanted to try. It was interesting to study driving theory again, because when I was studying for category “B”, I didn’t pay enough attention to it. I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to take this course and refresh my knowledge.

What stage of training are you at now?

I have already had two practical lessons. The first took place in a closed area of ​​​​a bus park and lasted 40 minutes. The instructor said to get behind the wheel and drive. I was surprised, because I expected it to be a while. The bus had an automatic transmission, and I had never driven with one before.

At the second lesson on the same day, the instructor said that we would go to the city. This was also unexpected. I am afraid to drive my car in Kyiv because I don’t know the road well, and here it is a bus! But the instructor supported me, and we went.

People on the streets took pictures, because it is not every day you see a woman driving a huge bus. Emotions were overwhelming!

I really liked it, so I am looking forward to the next classes. There are about two more weeks of practice planned. I will come to Kyiv to study continuously.

Have you thought about where you will get a job after the project is completed?

Many companies are currently offering jobs, but it is important to consider working conditions, schedule, and salary. So far, I am looking for a job, considering the option of working as an individual entrepreneur. But first, I want to get a job in a company where experienced drivers can help.

My father is a professional driver, so I know that labor standards are often violated in the transportation sector. I would like to find a place where this is not practiced, and the work will be comfortable and decently paid.

What could be the most difficult thing about this job? And what inspires you the most?

The most difficult for me are the technical aspects. If the bus breaks down, I won’t be able to immediately understand what’s wrong with it. But you can learn this.

And the opportunity to work on international routes inspires me the most. I would like to take passengers to Europe, help people travel hundreds of kilometers to meet their relatives. It would be both a job and an adventure for me.

Stereotypes don’t scare me. I know how to react to them – just smile. We are here to destroy stereotypes.

What advice would you give to women who are hesitating whether they should try a new profession?

Don’t be afraid to try something new. If you have the desire and motivation, you will definitely succeed. I once heard a phrase that still motivates me: “Aim for the moon, even if you miss, you will end up among the stars.” Therefore, you should only move forward and believe in yourself.

The project "Expanding the professional potential of women in the field of transportation" is being implemented by the NGO Foundation for Institutional Development on the initiative of the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, in partnership with UN Women and under the financial support from the governments of France, Poland and Sweden.