COLOMBIA: WOMEN AT WORK
The Remarkable Journey of Construimos a la Par
Mirleydis Torres is a 38-year-old construction assistant in Cartagena, Colombia who is passionate about her work. The mother of two installs kitchen and bathroom tiles and creates plaster moldings for the Colombian construction firm Constructora Bolívar—and she’s just getting started.
“My goal is to keep growing, hopefully within Constructora Bolívar,” she said. “Maybe become a construction supervisor or even an administrative assistant.”
Mirleydis Torres picured in the bottom row, far left
Camacol Bolivar
Until recently, Mirleydis was a stay-at-home mom whose family was sustained solely on her husband’s income. But in 2022, she learned about a project called Construimos a la Par (in English, “We Build Together”). The initiative was led by USAID through its Generating Equity program in collaboration with Camacol Bolívar, the Colombian Chamber of Construction.
In Colombia, women make up around seven percent of the construction workforce. Construimos a la Par, implemented between April 2022 and July 2023, aimed to provide more women with a foothold in the industry. The project taught participants skills including architectural interpretation, technical installations, and finishes. Equally importantly, the women gained self-confidence.
"Construimos a la Par has been a transformative experience for me,” Mirleydis said. “It has given me stability and a chance to learn things I never knew before. I feel a sense of personal growth and accomplishment.”
The project has improved the prospects of 232 Colombian women by offering a lifeline of opportunity during challenging times. Fifty of these women have gone on to secure employment with 14 project partner companies, while the remaining participants continue to strengthen their skills and abilities, and are ready to be included into the labor force.
Construimos a la Par has also sparked a transformation within the country’s construction sector. Private Sector Industry leaders such as Surtigas, Mejía y Villegas, and Marval have stepped up to sign USAID’s Gender Parity Initiative, where they commit to gender equity among their staff, management team, and board of directors. By prioritizing gender equity within their organizations, these companies are driving change and redefining the construction landscape.
Meanwhile, Mirleydis has learned to thrive in the male-dominated field. “Breaking the stereotype that construction is only for men has been fulfilling. I've become an example for my children and my husband,” said Mirleydis.
She went on to recall a time where a male coworker at a job site told her that if he was her husband, he’d have her stay at home and treat her like a queen. Her answer? “You don’t need to stay at home to be a queen.”
Camacol Bolivar
A couple of weeks later, the same coworker returned with a new perspective. “The same guy told me, ‘You are very strong, you are full of drive and guts,’” she said.
The journey of strengthening and diversifying Colombia’s construction industry is far from over. But each job secured and each barrier broken builds a brighter future for women like Mirleydis and the country.
ABOUT THIS STORY
Construimos a la Par was implemented between April 2022 and July 2023 to provide more women with a foothold in Colombia's male-dominated construction industry. The project was led by USAID through its Generating Equity program in collaboration with Camacol Bolívar, the Colombian Chamber of Construction. The project taught participants architectural interpretation, technical installations, and finishing skills while they gained self-confidence. The project has improved the prospects of 232 Colombian women, 50 of whom now work for 14 project partner companies, and has inspired industry leaders Surtigas, Mejía y Villegas, and Marval to sign a Gender Parity Initiative.