Bia Kern, from Rio Grande do Sul, has always enjoyed helping others. Over the years, her desire to empower economically vulnerable women or survivors of domestic violence grew stronger. In 2006, without any prior knowledge of the construction industry, Bia decided to found the Mulher em Construção  (Woman Under Construction) Institute in Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, to teach construction skills to these women.

By analyzing the job market’s needs, idle demand, and the number of unemployed women, she saw an opportunity to make a difference. “There were so many people looking for skilled professionals and not finding them. So, why not train women for this field?”, Bia asked herself.

In its 18 years of operation, Mulher em Construção has directly impacted around 7,000 women. Its flagship program, Cimento e Batom (Concrete and Lipstick), is sponsored by companies and offers technical and practical training in various construction skills, such as painting, drywall repair, plumbing, and electrical work. Additionally, participants receive emotional and behavioral support.

Another initiative, Divas na Construção Civil (Divas in Civil Construction), focuses on training, qualifying, and supporting unemployed women seeking to re-enter the workforce. In this project, the home of a former participant is chosen for renovation while new participants learn hands-on skills.

Initially, the institute operated exclusively in Rio Grande do Sul, but it recently expanded to São Paulo.

Women in construction: pioneering change

Due to their family experiences, some women come with basic knowledge, such as how to change a showerhead or a faucet. Based on the different knowledge levels, theoretical and practical classes are offered. “This way, they understand the entire production chain in construction”, Bia explains.

The topics covered in workshops depend on the needs of partner companies. On average, each class accommodates 20 participants, with all materials provided.

After completing the course, participants are closely monitored by the organization. “We check where they are, what they need, how much they’re earning, whether their family income has increased, and how their home situation is like”, says Bia.

Beyond acquiring new skills, the institute aims to have participants hired upon completion of the course. “Between 80% and 90% of our students leave the program employed. We’re working even harder to show companies that the real transformative movement isn’t just about training, but also hiring these women”, Bia emphasizes.

Demand for spots often exceeds availability. “In Porto Alegre, we opened 20 slots for a restoration course and received about 1,500 applications”. Additionally, Mulher em Construção is proud to be a pioneer in training female gas technicians in São Paulo, in partnership with Comgás, the largest distributor of piped natural gas in Latin America.

Transformed lives

Bia shares that the transformation process is evident, both physically and emotionally. “You notice a change in their mindset; they become more confident. Many come from situations where the first thing they do with their earnings is go to the market to buy food”.

“Others say they’ve started paying for English courses for their children. Some even started college after arriving here with incomplete high school education. So, seeing this growth—it’s impossible not to feel happy about achieving the impact we aim for”.

Challenges and progress

Stereotypes and sexism remain widespread in the construction industry, posing significant challenges. “For example, construction sites often lack women’s restrooms. It’s very complicated because women must walk long distances; when menstruating, they can’t even change their sanitary pads”.

On the other hand, there are also victories. According to Bia, some men change their behavior on construction sites due to the presence of women. “They adapt their language, improve teamwork, and even take better care of their health”.

Regenera Rio Grande do Sul

Mulher em Construção was founded in Canoas, one of the cities most affected by the historic floods in Rio Grande do Sul. To address this, the institute launched the Regenera RS (Regenerate RS) project, aimed at training men and women to first rebuild their homes and then to enter the job market.

Additionally, about 10 participants from Canoas who lost everything were identified and supported in their recovery process with donations of furniture, clothing, and work tools.

How to support Mulher em Construção

Mulher em Construção accepts volunteers and donations from companies and individuals. There’s no age limit to enroll in the courses; participants only need to be over 18. For more information, visit the institute’s website, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

.