BACK in the day, construction used to be dominated by men.
Society normalised building houses as a man’s job and women had to be in the kitchen.
But the modern construction industry is quickly changing all that.
Women are slowly but surely counted in this industry.
And as this number continues to rise, there are opportunities and training offered to attract more women to the industry.
Hambanathi Skills Training Centre in Wadeville, Ekurhuleni saw it fit to give an opportunity to 20 women from Buhle Park.
The women were taught how to build houses from scratch and to plaster them.
The aim was to empower them so that after finishing the course they could start their own businesses.
“We are taught how to lay a foundation, how to make correct measurements and after building is done, how to plaster,’ said Khethokuhle Hlongwane.
Another student, Nelisiwe Nkosi, said she thought building was something you could easily do, just by looking at what somebody is doing.
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“There are rules to follow and from this training I’m learning and wish to implement it when I start my own businesses,” she said.
Many of the women said they wish they could find jobs in construction companies so they can gain more experience.
As other women were learning how to build, others were learning how to plaster the walls.
“I will no longer have to pay someone to plaster for me, with the lessons I received here. I will from now on do things for myself,” said tudent Nozipho Mokoena.
Administrator Sindisiwe Mhlambi said Hambanathi Skills Training Centre has been running since 2015 and it’s a private institution that offers skills development, apprenticeship, learnerships and trade tests among others.
“We decided to give the 20 women from Buhle Park construction skills to give them a start in life.”
