The girl learns this difficult job to be able to fulfill her artistic dreams in the near future. For the last two weeks Olga Śmigielska has attended a welders' course organised by the training company of Mieczysław Czajkowski. She will complete the training on 28 December. On that day she will be able to present her practical skills and theoretical knowledge obtained during the training to a representative of The Welding Institute in Gliwice. Following the exam she will receive a European certificate. The document, issued in French, English and German, will allow her to work as a welder in all European Union member states.

Welding is just the beginning
Olga lives in Zalew. temporarily, as she says, because she plans to move to Zatyki. She learned about the course in the local Employment Office. She applied but was not accepted right away. There were only ten places and four times as many applicants (all men). Olga, however, reached the final ten without any problems. Mr. Czajkowski said that she easily qualified.
- The ten participants are joined by twenty one farmers who learn welding here. Mr. Mieczysław Czajkowski said that Olga was the only female participant. On the first day we were called by a representative of the local Employment Office. She wanted to know if Olga met the requirements and that she wouldn’t drop out aftre two or three days. I told them that she would be the last one to drop out. It was clear from the very beginning that she was talented. Olga was very well received here. It is clear that she is happy here. She will be all right, I'm sure.

Precise, female hand Welding is one of the most physically demanding jobs. One has to have the appropriate skills, even talent, to do it. Czajkowski explains that according to many specialists, women are the best welders. It is a matter of delicate, precise hand movement and approach to the job - women are sent to do the most difficult welding jobs in shipyards.

She wants to create unique items
It is very interesting to know why Olga wanted to learn welding. She didn't just want to learn the job. She was primarily interested in the skill. It is well known that Olga is talented and she wants to become an artist. She wants to craft items.
“I didn't have anything to do with welding, but I immediately liked the job” said Olga. She feels well here. Other trainees are very helpful. “I have serious plans closely related to the job – indirectly”. She wants to craft items such as unique, original beds. She is not interested in mass production. Each item will be unique. She had to start somewhere. “I think I will get experience here.”
We’re keeping our fingers crossed for the young artist and her life goals.


She inherited the interest in art from her father
Olga inherited the interest in art from her father, Andrzej Śmigielski, a jazz speaker who often visited Zlota Tarka (a gentleman in a hat with a characteristic hoarseness of voice). Andrzej is also an artist but he uses different materials - he creates wooden sculptures.

Source: http://ilawa.wm.pl/