Mpigi Teenage Girl Defies Gender Stereotypes Through Metal Fabrication to Support Her Mother

In Mpigi Town, Uganda, 18-year-old Eriana Tendo is challenging traditional gender roles by excelling in the male-dominated field of metal fabrication. Eriana spends her days skillfully operating welding equipment, cutting metal, and constructing items like doors and windows, carving out a niche in a demanding trade.

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I looked for jobs that could help me earn a decent income, but most employers offered only Shs50,000 to Shs70,000 per month. I decided to learn welding because I believed it could provide better opportunities and income.

Her journey into welding began after completing her secondary education in 2024. Facing financial constraints that prevented her from pursuing further studies and finding low-paying job offers, Eriana sought a trade that could provide a stable income. "I looked for jobs that could help me earn a decent income, but most employers offered only Shs50,000 to Shs70,000 per month. I decided to learn welding because I believed it could provide better opportunities and income," she explained.

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To be honest, welding was never what I wanted to do. But today, it is the job I love most. I can make windows, doors and many other metal products.

Although welding was not her initial career aspiration, Eriana has found fulfillment and passion in her work. "To be honest, welding was never what I wanted to do. But today, it is the job I love most. I can make windows, doors and many other metal products," she stated, expressing a strong commitment to her craft.

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My female friends laugh at me whenever they see photos of me welding on WhatsApp. Some insult me and say I am doing men's work. It can be discouraging.

Eriana acknowledges the challenges she faces, including ridicule from peers who mock her for doing "men's work" and skepticism from customers who doubt her capabilities due to her gender. However, she remains focused on her goals, driven by the desire to improve her mother's life. "What keeps me going is my desire to change my mother's life. She sacrificed everything she could to educate me, but circumstances made it impossible for me to continue with school. I want to work hard and one day build her a house," Eriana said.

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Sometimes customers find it hard to believe that I can do the work. They question whether I can handle heavy materials or produce quality work. But I have learned to ignore the criticism because I am focused on earning a living.