BUSINESS AND TRAINING 13
Women on Tools campaign aims to change the narrative
Edited by
Tanya Olckers – Submitted by BluLever Education
Plumbing Africa thanks BluLever Education for providing coverage of their ongoing Women on Tools campaign , which aims to change the narrative about women in the trades by sharing the success stories of female apprentices .
Rhulani Sibisi is a young woman who is starting out in plumbing . Plumbing , she says , combines her interest in how things work with problem solving . Here is her story in her own words :
My journey into the plumbing field was quite a unique one . From a young age I was always fascinated by how things worked and enjoyed problem solving . During college , I explored different trades , and I was introduced to plumbing .
To be honest , initially I was hesitant to enter a male-dominated industry , worrying about acceptance and stereotypes , however , my passion for plumbing helped me push past those concerns .
All pictures supplied by BluLever Education
In my apprenticeship , I ' ve faced some challenges , like being underestimated or assumed to be less capable due to my gender and size - but I was always willing to prove them wrong and show them what I ' m capable of and that dynamite comes in small packages . Throughout my journey , I ' ve learned to embrace my uniqueness and perspective , develop a growth mindset and resilience and focus on building my skills . I ' m proud to be a part of the plumbing industry , and I hope to inspire other women to consider this interesting career path .
When I first started my apprenticeship , I was excited to dive into the world of plumbing , but I quickly realised that I was entering a maledominated industry , and that came with its own set of challenges . Some people assumed I wasn ' t strong enough or capable enough to handle the physical demands of the job . Others thought I was only interested in the ‘ clean ’ or ‘ office ’ aspects of plumbing , like administration or sales . Sometimes I felt like I was being talked down to , like I wouldn ' t understand technical concepts .
It was frustrating and isolating at times . I felt like I had to prove myself and work twice as hard to earn respect , but I was determined to succeed . I worked to build my skills and knowledge . Looking back , those challenges made me stronger and more confident .
During my EBL , I was working on a job with a team of experienced plumbers . We were tasked with installing a geyser in the ceiling . The supervisor , who had been doing this work for years assumed I wouldn ' t know how to handle it and started explaining the process to me in a condescending tone . I felt like I had to prove myself , not just
Future fixer Rhulani .
to him but to the rest of the team . So , I listened patiently , nodded , and then asked a few clarifying questions to show I understood . Then , I got to work using my knowledge to install the geyser .
The outcome was that we properly installed the geyser and the team was impressed . The supervisor even came up to me and said he was wrong about me and was very impressed . I approached the situation by staying calm and composed , listening actively and asking questions , focusing on the task at hand and showing my skills and knowledge through my work . The outcome was not only successful but I also earned the respect of my colleagues . It was a small win , but it felt huge .
The most rewarding aspect of working in the plumbing industry for me has been the opportunity to problem solve and make a tangible impact on people ' s lives , especially for a female , just proving that women are just as capable as men in this industry . There ' s satisfaction in knowing that my work provides essential services , like clean water and sanitation .
As a female artisan , I ' ve seen my role contribute positively to the workplace environment in several ways such as diversity of
November 2024 Volume 30 I Number 9 www . plumbingafrica . co . za