Empowered, Powerful Beyond Measure and Beautiful Beyond Description
The non-traditional sectors are sectors largely dominated by the men with very few women on board. The Stigmatization and the stereotypical thinking of women has largely barred them from venturing into areas with great benefits, great earnings and availability of jobs. Imagine the outputs to be registered if the women were empowered to venture more into the non-traditional sectors? What could be a Countries Gross Domestic Product? A continents GDP?
A little look at Alberta in 2012 (obtained from Women in non-traditional occupations: stories to inspire)
In 2012, Alberta women made up the following percentages of the work force in non-traditional sectors:
• 25% of mining, quarrying and oil and gas extraction
• 14% of construction
• 24% of manufacturing
• 26% of transportation and warehousing
From the above statistics it is clear and evident that some countries out of Africa are embracing the idea of women in the non-traditional sectors. Where is Africa? With all her natural resources, with all her favourable climate? Where can she be placed when it comes to accommodating women workforce into the non-traditional sectors?
Women in Construction
In an interview with Shalom, the Timeless Women of Wonder (TWOW) Empowerment Pillar torch bearer, she worked in the construction industry for over 10 years and noticed how few women were taking up the opportunities in the construction sector. She saw a need to make the women understand the value they can add to the industry, the need to help women overcome their stereotypes and their stigma as this would ensure that projects would be done faster, neater and with less wastage.
She also noted that the construction projects would be functional especially for home owners since women in construction sites would not only use the construction eye but also their experience. It would also increase women’s income, as construction work pays more than the traditional roles of cleaning and cooking that most women are meant to believe are only jobs they can take up on site.
“We would often go on site and have to renovate a building to adjust positions of windows, sockets, doors, the size and the layout of the bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens.” Ms. Shalom Munyiri.
Ms. Nyakan Munyeki CEO and Founder, Timeless Women of Wonder together with Ms. Shalom Munyiri, the Empowerment pillar torch Bearer
What then needed to be done to bring women on board in the non-traditional sector? Mobilization, shifting of mindsets, empowerment. Timeless Women of Wonder (TWOW) through Unveiling Her Star Program ventured into making a reality the need to have women in the less female dominated sectors; the construction industry. It was difficult to get women on board but Timeless Women of Wonder held onto its vision; developing the grassroot woman and placing her in a position she would fend for herself, her family and in turn contribute to the growth of Africa as a whole.
According to (Dublon, 2015) The UN’s Food and Agricultural organization has projected that giving women the same access as men to resources such as fertilizer and farm equipment could increase the productivity by 20% to 30% and in turn boost agricultural output in developing countries by 2.5% to 4%.
In 2015, 500 women were mobilized in Kibra, with 320 of the 500 mobilized women going through the whole course and graduating. In 2016; 20,000 women from Kiambu County came on board for the program, 5,000 were registered but only 3,500 were trained due to inadequacy of funds.
Kibra County women at work, certification
There was change of mindsets, understanding of women to have their families as the beneficiaries, increased income, reduced pregnancy rates and early marriages, improved lifestyle just to mention a few.
The women were given a chance to showcase their work at the annual Timeless Women Conference and this increased the trust, credibility and the belief in the women that they can do it.
The Unveiling Her Star Program’s future is to have a wide reach; that is mobilize women in other counties like Bungoma, Kilifi and Makueni, include an online portal to ensure continuous and consistent participation of its members which will motivate the women to attain higher standards of delivery and production since they get exposed to opportunities abroad.
The Unveiling Her Star Program is a great achievement towards empowering women to venture into the non-traditional sectors which its results will be highly contribute to the growth of Africa.
