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03/07/2005

Press Release

Women Learning Construction Skills in USAID Initiative

WITH hammer in hand, Della Simon perches herself on top a roof at the New Life Organisation (NEWLO) with such ease, that it belies the fact that it was only six weeks ago that she first ventured into the field of carpentry.

Hammering away below her are Tominysha Nicholas, Roxanne John and Sheila Lord, just a few of the Grenadian young women who are challenging gender stereotypes as they announce their arrival in a male-dominated profession which has assumed increased importance in a country presently undergoing a massive rebuilding program in the aftermath of the Hurricane Ivan. The program is one of the many training initiatives being undertaken by the US Government through the US Agency for International Development (USAID)

A few weeks before Ivan swept through Grenada leaving a trail of destruction, these women who were employed as sales clerks in city stores, telemarketers and other “traditional” jobs, did not envisage themselves learning life skills in the male-dominated construction industry, but the powerful hurricane changed all that.

Under a program being offered by the Grenada National Organisation of Women (GNOW) at the NEWLO complex, the young women are taking their place among men to learn the finer arts of carpentry, tiling, electrical installation and plumbing. USAID program falls under the Grenada Business and Agricultural Revitalization Project, which is being implemented by the CARANA Corporation.

Under this construction skills training component being run by GNOW and NEWLO, along with a similar program by the T.A. Marrsyshow Community College, training is being conducted in roof construction and repair, doors and windows installation, tile fixing, electrical installation, plumbing and pipe fitting.

Among those planning to make a permanent mark in the construction arena is 24-year-old Laura Lewis who completed the training course in electrical installation. The former part-time worker at the Grenada Broadcasting Network said “I never really thought of working as an electrician before and probably without Ivan, I would not have, but I love it now”.

She said that in addition to employing her skills to earn a living, she and the other trainees could make a contribution at their own homes by doing jobs which they normally would have to pay for. “It always pays to learn new things and I'm very thankful for the opportunity,” she said, calling on other young women not to let gender divisions hold them back from doing whatever they out their minds to.

Curtis Thomas, one of the young men on the training course, said he has no problems with so many women seeking to enter the construction industry. “It's a good thing. These women have families to feed and by entering construction they can make a better living for their families,” he added.