Katherine Sánchez: Breaking Barriers in the Energy Industry
Katherine practicing installations on electrical poles while using climbing ropes and safety equipment during the electrical lineman course.
Katherine Sánchez, 21, has spent much of her life working in construction alongside her father. After earning her high school degree, she began her university studies in international marketing. However, her plans were interrupted when her father got sick, forcing her to put her studies on hold to take care of her father for a month. "After that, when I tried to re-enroll at the university, the opportunity had passed," she explains.
Katherine’s path took an unexpected turn in May when she came across an announcement on social media for an electrical lineman course offered by the USAID Skills for Employment Project, in collaboration with the Instituto Nacional de Capacitación y Formación (INCAF) and Distribuidora de Electricidad DELSUR (Delsur). This course, the first of its kind in El Salvador, trains young people to install and repair medium- and low-voltage electrical networks, a crucial role in the energy sector that ensures that homes and businesses are supplied with their required level of electricity.
With her extensive hands-on experience in construction—having learned everything from masonry and tiling to plumbing, welding, and roofing—Katherine saw this training as a chance to diversify her skills. "I wasn’t able to start studying again until now, but I've always been adventurous in everything," she explains. “I believe that I have to learn many things. If I can't support myself with one thing, I need to learn to support myself with another."
From her home in the Monte San Juan neighborhood in Cuscatlán, Katherine travels about 30 kilometers every day to attend classes at INCAF’s training center in San Bartolo, Ilopango. The daily commute hasn’t dampened her enthusiasm, and her family has encouraged her to pursue this opportunity. “My family sees photos of me climbing with ropes. It’s something that is mostly done by men," she said. The Skills for Employment Project is working to break down gender barriers by providing opportunities for women in traditionally male-dominated fields. “We shouldn’t limit ourselves,” said Katherine in reference to breaking stereotypes. “We should give ourselves the chance to learn. As women, we can also do this. We are in a different time now.” Alongside Katherine, three other women are also receiving this training, demonstrating the growing presence of women in this industry.
Katherine is deeply grateful to the Skills for Employment Project, which has not only provided technical support, but also mentorship to help her and her classmates access opportunities in the energy sector. "They are helping us grow professionally and personally. I, like many others, would be very grateful if they continued to offer these opportunities. They are excellent," she said with a smile.
For Katherine, this experience is just the beginning. Her dream is to join DELSUR or, with additional complementary training, explore other areas within the electrical energy sector. Katherine is ready to face her future with confidence, supported by the training she has received.
USAID’s $28.3 million Skills for Employment Project provides job training for 12,000 Salvadorans like Katherine that aligns with the needs of the labor market, equipping them with high-quality and relevant education and skills for a pathway to a career and employment.