Women plumbers – breaking down barriers

As a qualified plumber and a leader in this water sanitation project, Rosalina Ortega (foreground) is a role model for women in Tarritos, Honduras. "It is important to be a woman plumber because when someone does a job, that person is important," says Rosalina.

In Tarritos, Honduras, Rosalina Ortega is a role model for women because of her responsibilities as a plumber in a water sanitation project to ensure that Hondurans have access to safe drinking water and effective sanitation services. About 42 percent of the community's municipal water systems are managed by women.

A CARE Canada project (supported by both CIDA and the World Bank) is helping women in Tarritos get their trade qualifications.

Now 28 women graduates maintain 13 water systems in 20 communities. Although they face resistance in a male-dominated trade, these women have acquired skills that allow them to find employment and improve their standard of living. They have broken down barriers and helped change the perception of what women can achieve.