In a traditionally male-dominated sector, eleven women in the Valparaíso Region have taken a firm step towards gender equality thanks to the ‘Women Gasfiteras‘ programme, an initiative promoted by Lipigas and implemented by Red Maestra. Among them are Angélica Sáez, 42, and her daughter Constanza San Martín, 29, who decided to train together in plumbing.

Angélica, who has five years of experience in the construction industry, was working as a cleaner on a construction site when she first heard about the programme. Motivated by the desire to break with gender prejudices, she did not hesitate to apply.

“When I heard about this project, I was working as a cleaner on a construction site, but when I asked about plumbing or construction, there was this bias that we can’t do these kinds of things because we are women. That was one of my motivations for applying, I have always wanted to know more and I wanted to learn to do these jobs on my own”, says Angélica.

The ‘Women Gasfiteras’ programme aims to train and certify women from the regions of Valparaíso, Metropolitana and Biobío before the Superintendencia de Electricidad y Combustibles (SEC). The aim is to encourage the incorporation of women in the sector, strengthen their technical development and promote their economic autonomy.

Inspired by her mother, Constanza saw this programme as an opportunity to improve her skills, generate income and develop further.

“My mother and I have always been involved in construction, and in these types of trades more male labour is always required, but with programmes like Mujeres Gasfiteras, it is clear that women can do jobs that have been considered men’s work. The best thing about all this is that I have been able to do it with my mother because we have learned and grown together in this whole process”, says the 29-year-old.