Kudos to the trainees who took centre stage at our recent community engagement sessions helping to raise awareness that working in the construction sector is definitely #notjustforboys!

The trainees performed short sketches to members of the community at Machaya and at Mwachinondo. The sessions aimed to help challenge stereotypes, and support the enrolment of more women onto our construction training courses.

“The construction sector offers many different employment opportunities for both men and women,” explains Kaela Kuntuka, our Programme Support Intern who helped to set up the sessions.

“The trainees did a very good job in telling the story of a young lady who faced multiple discouragement from her family, friends and her community when she told them she was going to work in construction… but still achieved her goal in the end! Seeing how the community responded to it was very inspiring!

The feedback sessions were also really good, with people really engaged in the discussions.”

Breaking barriers, building dreams – getting messages to the heart of communities

Hear what Machaya resident Vivien Zulu thought of the session:

(Vivien speaks in Bemba – click on the Subtitles icon (CC) on the bottom right of the video for the English translation)

Well done to all the trainees who took part and made the events such a success!

Our thanks to the communities who gave our trainees such a warm welcome.

Thank you to the Government of Ireland through the Embassy of Ireland in Zambia for their support in helping us to increase women’s participation in the Zambian construction sector at entry-level.

With their support we aim to improve women’s access to entry-level certification, employability, income earning potential, and support services.

To find out more about this initiative, please contact Chilufya Kasutu, Build It Country Director via [email protected]