Unveiling Her Star
The Unveiling Her Star (UHS) project was born out of the Timeless Women Conference (TWC) 2015 themed “Healed Heels.” The 220 delegates attending from all over Africa and the UK dialogued on the role of women in Africa’s social and economic transformation and the impact of the mindset of Africa on its development. Women in Manufacturing, WIM, Women in Sustainable Agriculture, WISA, Women in Construction, WIC, Women in Maritime – WIMa, Women in Oil and Gas, WIOG and Women in Industries, WII). The objective was building the skills and capacities of women to empower them to take up wealth and job creation opportunities in these growing sectors.
3 months after the February TWC Conference 2015, strategic partnership teams were formed to implement the key strategy for Skills development for women in the construction sector.
Why Women in Construction?
• Skills and capacities of women in the construction sector needed to be built to empower them to take up wealth and job creation opportunities in this growing sector
• To actualize the potential of women by exposing them to new opportunities in this sector
• To fulfill the call to collaborate as a strategy for greatness, efficiency and impact
• To ensure that true impact is actualized by ensuring that the women who are trained have jobs or businesses within the sector
• To train women with skills that they can use to change their personal circumstances and environment in turn transforming their communities
Methodology
Leveraging Digital platforms, accessing new markets, creating new products, shifting Paradigms.
Women in Construction Phase 1: Kibra Sub-County, Nairobi County
Through interactions with the women at the grassroots, unskilled women in one of the largest slums in East and Central Africa- Kibera slum were selected and inspired to do something new. The projects’ focus was mentorship for a paradigm shift in their mindset and social-economic transformation to uplift their standards of life, to develop their neighborhoods and contribute to the growth of Africa as a continent.
Areas women were trained in:
• Masonry
• Tiling
• Roofing
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• Painting
• Recycling and Repurposing
• Furniture Making
In 2015, 320 women graduated in both Theory and Practical / Technical in various disciplines of construction such as Painting, Masonry, Plumbing, Carpentry, Tiling and Roofing and received various accreditation from TWOW and National Construction Authority.
In 2016, 500 women graduated in both Theory and Practical / Technical in various disciplines of construction such as Painting, Masonry, Plumbing, Carpentry, Tiling and Roofing and received various accreditation from TWOW and National Construction Authority.
Impact
• Expected income per woman increased from Ksh. 200 to 1,000 per day (400%)
• Improved nutrition
• Improved access to education
• Better healthcare and improved quality of life
• Reduced exposure to early marriages, Gender-Based Violence, unplanned pregnancies and HIV/AIDs
Our partners
1. Savannah Cement
2. Dura Coat
3. Crown Paint
4. Rex Roofing
5. National Construction Authority (NCA)
6. Christian Aid/UK
7. Technically qualified Professionals and Individuals
