Seven months after Holcim Ecuador, Nirsa and the UTPL School of Professional Operators of Heavy Machinery — with the support of the United Nations Women (UN Women) — created the program Women behind the wheel to work in equal opportunities, 29 women already have a professional license type G , half in employment or in the process.

It is considered the first professional transport and heavy equipment driving school for women in Ecuador. It grants this type of licenses that allow them to drive agricultural machinery, heavy machinery, truck transport equipment, among others. Eight graduates are already at Holcim Ecuador in various positions, such as forklift operators, heavy equipment, shipping and loader. Seven more will form part of Nirsa.

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Dolores Prado, executive director of Holcim, points out that “gender equality is experienced through concrete facts; For this reason, we offered the eight graduates the opportunity to show all their abilities and knowledge acquired within our business and thus show that talent has no gender.”

While Negocios Industriales Real SA undertook to prepare seven graduates in an internal induction program so that they are officially part of the company as forklift operators. “We believe that no position has a gender. We are a company that promotes fairness, because we know that this is the only way to achieve a better society. By supporting development programs in areas where the presence of women is low, we break stereotypes and offer them opportunities to grow”, says Jorge Arpí, executive president of Nirsa.

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Holcim Ecuador already has the second Women at the Wheel promotion underway in alliance with Nirsa and with the support of UN Women, for the second year in a row and together with new allies: Conduespol, Bimbo, Cervecería Nacional, Conexpet and GAD Samborondón. Those who participate must be of legal age, have a bachelor’s degree and a previously obtained type B license. Classes will begin in May and will be conducted in a hybrid mode: 75% online and 25% face-to-face.

The goal of this initiative is to create training spaces that challenge and ultimately eliminate gender stereotypes in historically masculinized industries. It is important for the private sector to take steps to advance equality, such as Mujeres al Volante, which contributes to the elimination of some gender differences and is an example that it is possible to take concrete actions for equality. This is the opinion of Ana Elena Badilla, representative of UN Women in Ecuador, who was present at the awarding of diplomas to the first class held at the end of March last year.