I wanted to work in the forestry, and became a master of ZhEU: the story of Julia Andreychik

Julia Andreychik was born and graduated from school in the agro-town of Drachkovo, Smolevichy district. She entered the Belarusian State Technological University at the Faculty of Forestry, intending to return to her native lands after studying and work in forestry. However, the scored number of points allowed to get the specialty of a garden and park construction engineer, and the girl took advantage of this opportunity. After graduation, Yulia went to ZhEU No. 2 of the Soviet district of Minsk, where she was entrusted with a plot of 20 houses. About how yesterday’s student mastered an unusual sphere and why she decided to stay in the housing and communal services after the end of the distribution period, read the material of the correspondent of the Minsk-Novosti agency.

It's not taught in high school

After four years of lectures, seminars and practice, which Julia held in the "Zelenstroy Partizansky district of Minsk", the question of distribution arose. The university offered options for the specialty, but far from home, for example, in Nesvizh, Verkhnedvinsk. And in the capital, the graduate was ready to provide the first job in ZhEU No. 2 of the Soviet district. The position is a master of improvement. Julia agreed, not knowing that housing has a special specificity. To comprehend the basics of the profession had literally from scratch.

- It was August 2024. I enter the building and immerse myself in the atmosphere of active communal life. People are rushing along the corridors, workers are discussing something, local residents are trying to solve their problems. I was given a desk, a computer and a front line. This is a plot of 20 houses with yard areas on Masherov Avenue, streets of Kuibyshev, Maxim Bogdanovich, Starovilenskaya, Vera Horuzhy. The sanitary condition of the entrances and yards was provided by eight workers for complex cleaning, mostly men, and all of them were subordinate to me. Imagine: yesterday’s graduate of the university leads harsh janitors, controls their work, points out defects, gives instructions..

The first time was difficult. A great help was and continues to be provided by my mentor - Deputy Director for improvement and sanitary maintenance of housing Ekaterina Oreshko. Gradually established relations with janitors: each of them is individual, with its own character, said Yuri Andreychik.

On the move

The working day of Yuri Andreychik begins with a review of applications received at number 115 and the Internet portal "May Respublika" 115.bel from residents in the assigned territory and concerning the sanitary situation. The most common are dirt in the entrance, filled urns, spilled past the container waste on the site. Part of the appeal depends on seasonality. For example, in summer they are associated with mowing grass, in winter - with snow removal.

Garbage, some contamination may appear after a working day. The next morning, the janitors would have seen and cleaned everything themselves. Nevertheless, we conduct a check on each appeal. I often contact applicants on the phone to clarify something. Of course, they call me directly, and not only on sanitation and improvement. For example, ask to advise a good plumber to replace the mixer. I am calm about the fact that for some tenants, the master of ZhEU is a priori responsible for everything, the interlocutor noted with a smile.

Most of the time Julia spends on the site. She not only monitors the quality of work of the wards, but also takes inventory in her hands and brings cleanliness. Especially in autumn, when it is necessary to rake and remove fallen foliage, and in winter - during periods of ice and snowfall. Moreover, the majority of employees of the ZhEU, including the management, go to fight against the snow element.

At the same time, according to the master of improvement, residents are not as actively involved in subbotniks as we would like. And in the forefront of the "refuseniks" are those who closely monitor the order and regularly send complaints at the slightest occasion.

- Each house has a small group of really caring residents who are ready to help and offer something in terms of improvement. Now a civil initiative is being implemented: in the yard of the house No. 19 on Vera Horuzhy Street, a gaming complex has been installed, another, smaller, for kids, other children’s equipment is being installed, the interlocutor gave an example.

Backstage

For the first months, Julia lived at home, got up at 6 a.m. and drove to the nearest metro station - about 35 km.

- Often the father, who also works in Minsk, drove by car, sometimes traveled by bus, Yulia recalled. — The director of ZhEU Igor Petrovich Garunovich learned about this and advised to contact the Minsk City Dormitories. I prepared the necessary documents, wrote a statement, and soon I was given a room. It's 10 minutes on foot.

When it is time to be alone, Julia reads women’s novels or draws. He prefers not e-books, but printed ones: he likes turning pages, smelling paint. And drawing was taught at the university: the future landscape designer should be able to depict the sketch of the object on paper with his own hands. Now it's become a hobby.

In early August, Andreychik’s two-year distribution period expired, but she decided to continue working in ZhEU.

- I like the team, mutual assistance, the attitude of management to employees. That's fine. Not only is she involved in work, she brings positive emotions, is constantly in motion, in the fresh air. The end result of your work is visible not on paper or a computer monitor, but with your own eyes. It is nice to hear words of gratitude from the residents. Of course, sometimes you come home and just want to lie down with your eyes closed. But this is utilities, – concluded the interlocutor.

Igor Garunovich, Director of ZhEU No. 2 of the Soviet District:

- We have four young professionals up to 30 years old. Two of them are masters of maintenance - Evgeny Klochkov, who, by the way, combines direct duties with mowing grass, and Ivan Ermakovic. He was interrupted for military service and recently returned. The boys are employed by distribution. Yulia Andreychik has completed the workout, the girl has the potential and desire to improve in the profession. Two years is a short time period to gain experience. For such employees, mentors with many years of experience are assigned. Yana Bandik works as a legal adviser - she came to an open vacancy and, despite her age, copes perfectly. These guys have a keen interest in the housing sector and healthy ambitions.

Photo by Diana Shabala