There Is No Limit To What A Woman Can Do
“I love the shock their eyes give away when they see me taking on a plumbing job.”
-Margret Najjagwe
(said with a smile, speaking of her male counterparts in the industry)
In Uganda – and surely for most cultures – Margaret’s career choice to become a female plumber is widely considered unconventional. And on top of that, having a successful career of any kind at just 20 years-old is also a rarity. Many others her age are still living at home with their families and will not typically acquire careers until the age of 30 due to job scarcity. Defying the odds, Margaret enjoys showcasing her talent despite those who underestimate her based on her gender or age.
Margret credits her inspiration largely to other female mentors in the field, as well as her strong desire to challenge men – proving that women are capable of doing anything.
At a young age, Margret was forced to become self-driven after her mother passed away. She was taken in by her aunt who had 5 other children to care for. As a result, Margret had to largely take care of herself and often took on the role of caretaker for her young cousins.
Margret has grown so much in our program:
With Children of Uganda and the support of her sponsors, Margret persevered in her academics. In 2019, she graduated from our sponsorship program with a vocational certificate in plumbing from St. Kizito Technical Institute in Masaka District.
Plumbing is labor intensive work. Margret shared with us that the exertion of cutting, welding and installing heavy materials can be exhausting. The nature of her work also makes her more prone to accidents. However, due to the high demand for plumbers, she said it has been easy to find work and this has afforded her the opportunity to earn a consistent income.
Margret is so grateful to be working in a trade that she is truly passionate about. She hopes that her example will inspire other young girls and boys to challenge limiting gender stereotypes.
