We all agree that finding a good job nowadays is not easy. Whether you have the papers or not, you will have to move under the sun until something great comes your way.
As the saying goes, what a man can do, a woman can do better. 23-year- old Rose Peace Asianju from Entebbe has gotten people talking about the nature of the work she does.
Well, just like other hardworking women out there, Asianju has decided not to sit back and decry the rampant state of unemployment as we met her on an electric pole fixing electrical connections. She works with Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited.
She is passionate about her job and when she is at work, she is always fully dressed in her uniform; an apron, gumboot for climbing poles, and carrying a toolbox.
In this career spotlight, Peace who is in the electrical installation and maintenance field shares with the Matooke Republic what it is like to be in the male-dominated field.
Tell us about yourself, and your journey thus far?
I went to St Balikuddembe Primary School Mpigi, I finished my O Level from Airforce SSS Entebbe. In 2019, I further went on for higher studies where I studied a course for a National Certificate in Electrical Installation and maintenance at St Joseph’s Technical Institute Kisubi.
How or why did you choose electrical installation and maintenance as a career?
It was a long path that naturally led me to electrical installation. While I was in primary school, I was good at math. But I often heard sayings such as, “Girls will not do good math when they go to school.” I had my doubts. Luckily, my dad was an electrician and was very supportive of me in every dream that I pursue. Watching him do wiring was one of the favorite parts of my childhood. He also spent a lot of time with me outside of work, playing the go-game, running, and discussing fun math problems.
And when I went to secondary school, I was glad to find out that what people said was indeed not true, Math and Physics were very easy for me.
What inspires you about electrical installation and maintenance?
Electrical installation and maintenance inspire me with their way to think. The physical world is so complicated, but electrical installation and maintenance provide theories and approaches that capture the intrinsic core properties and relationships.
What is the ratio of women to men in your workplace?
The ratio is about 1:10.
What is the most exciting thing about your job?
I get thrilled when the research work leads to new discoveries. A great thing about this job is the freedom to explore any research subject that you are interested in. This job also excites me with the opportunities to work with many great people.
What does a typical day in your job involve?
A day usually starts early. Wake up early morning do some reading, go for morning prayers then I go to our workplace.
What kind of impact would bring you great satisfaction in your work?
What keeps me going forward in this work is to get money and support my single mother because I love her so much and she has been there for me. I remember last year after my course she had money but she borrowed and bought me tools and even connected to an engineer whom I am currently working with. This is the impact that has brought me the greatest satisfaction in my work.
What are your hopes for the future in this field?
I hope that in the future, the electrical installation and maintenance field can be more supportive and encouraging. I noticed the girls who were with me in this course left the field one by one for various reasons. You do feel lonely when the meeting room has fewer and fewer women when you go further.
On the other hand, I attended a conference about electrical installation and maintenance last year but it was a thrilling experience to see over 200 young ladies participants there. I was refreshed and re-energized to see that all our efforts are showing impacts. We are role models for our next generation of girls, and I hope in the future electrical installation and maintenance, girls can have a lot of fun, instead of worrying about various issues that still bother them, such as gender unfairness, harassment, and academic bully of various sorts.
What is it like to be a young lady in electrical installation and maintenance which involves climbing poles? Do you feel that your age and gender give you a different perspective and experience from your male counterparts? Any advantages?
Some people laugh and the job is meant for men but for me, it’s been an incredible experience. Walking into a meeting with men who have been in the industry since I joined it in 2019, climbing a pole and maintaining power, is so amazingly empowering! Initially, I felt that it would be difficult to get respect from very seasoned people. As women, though, we tend to be more empathetic.
We form relationships, and we have sincere interests in others and their lives. This is so advantageous in working with clients who start to look forward to seeing me, share milestones with me, and encourage me.
What challenges do women face in electrical installation and maintenance?
The first challenge is that you need to stay strong, trust yourself, and ignore those who label you with something just because you are a female. The second challenge comes from the balance of work and studies. The third challenge is to speak up when you are treated unfairly because of your gender. We are not speaking up just for ourselves, but for the future of our next generation of girl electricians.
Another challenge is that the job sometimes is dangerous if you’re not careful.
What would you say to girls in school/college who may be considering electrical installation and maintenance as a career choice/study option?
I would like to say to them that we are now fortunate enough to have the freedom to choose electrical installation and maintenance as a career. If it is your love, feel free to choose it and you do not need to listen to others who think girls cannot climb poles. You are smart, strong, with a good heart, and hence you have the power to shape the future of electrical installation and maintenance to become a more encouraging and supporting field.
What’s next for your career?
My plan is to get a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering.