ДIn August, NIBULON expanded the scope of its humanitarian demining initiative and launched SPECIAL DEMINE FORCES, a project aimed at training employees in non-technical survey, which is a preparatory process for humanitarian demining. The goal of the program is to help clear Ukrainian land of contamination caused by the war.
From the moment the project was announced, it became clear that NIBULON’s employees would be interested in it. This was confirmed by the number of participants. In the very first days, the participant groups were formed for several months ahead. The training was not put off, and our trainers – demining specialists and sappers – started the course immediately. To date, about 150 team members, including top managers, have already received certificates in NTS.
We asked some of them about their experience, motivation, and plans.
Kateryna Fedorchenko, a specialist from the economic security department, said:
“I really appreciated practical training. Of course, it was preceded by extensive theoretical training. But practice is irreplaceable. Together with the trainers, we went through all the stages of NTS, including orienteering, mapping, interviewing people, etc. The ability to provide first aid is the essential knowledge that is mandatory for a non-technical survey specialist. After completing the training, I feel stronger and ready to participate as a team member in real missions.”
Oleh Surenshchykov, a training and development manager, commented:
“The full-scale war currently ongoing in Ukraine has no end date, and no one is willing to predict how long it will last. In my opinion, it is important to have knowledge and practical skills in NTS in a country at war, because anyone can face the danger of finding explosive devices and must be able to recognize them. So, when the opportunity to acquire specialized knowledge arose, I took it.”
Mykhailo Rizak, Director of Government Relations, stated:
“NIBULON’s demining team has returned 97.5% of the leased land to cultivation through NTS. The strategy developed by our department has intensified the training of NTS specialists, involving all interested employees and their family members.
NIBULON will continue to participate in UNDP, UNOPS, and PROZORRO tenders for land demining. Now that the Ministry of Economy has supported 100% reimbursement of demining costs, we can approach NTS and demining at a qualitatively new level.
The formation of areas for NTS and demining, regardless of farmers’ applications, will help us to carry out 100% of non-technical surveys on all controlled areas in Ukraine in the next three years.
Currently, our plans include expanding both the number of specialists and the scope of certification as a mine action operator.”
We are ready to help demine Ukraine. Together, we will succeed!
