Colombia. In Antioquia, the Center for the Development of Habitat and Construction of the SENA, in alliance with the 'Para Construir' Foundation, continues to promote the participation of women in the construction sector. Through technical programs in architectural painting, drywall, electricity and gas networks, among others, it seeks to train qualified female labor and highlight their skills.
María Victoria Palacio, a 65-year-old apprentice, decided to train in Architectural Painting and Special Finishes to apply her knowledge in her home, built by self-construction. "I am an adult and people think that because of my age we do not have the right to study and even less in construction. We are capable of working and doing everything we set out to do. We're never too old to try to do something new," she says.
For her part, Leidy Tatiana Loaiza, also a trainee in the program, sees construction as an opportunity to grow her passion for interior design. Her message is blunt: "I am studying Architectural Painting and Special Finishes to encourage women, this is not a unique field for men. Women when we set out to do so are excellent in the field of construction and painting."
Instructor Álvaro Sierra, from the Center for the Development of Habitat and Construction, highlights the growing interest of women in this type of training: "There are many women who attend these courses, they want to be trained in everything that has to do with construction, not only in paintings, but also in electricity, gas networks, plumbing, among others."
Under the direction of Jorge Eduardo Londoño Ulloa, SENA continues to promote female inclusion in spaces traditionally dominated by men, providing tools for their professional growth and strengthening in the industry.
