Baithia Evodie Yanguendji, a civil engineer of Anda, a Chinese construction company, is seen at a construction site in Bangui, Central African Republic, Feb. 21, 2022. (Photo by Erick/Xinhua)
by Arison Tamfu and Erick Ngaba
BANGUI, March 7 (Xinhua) -- In Central African Republic (CAR) it's unusual to find female engineers but that's slowly changing as a new crop of trained engineers are being recruited by Anda, a Chinese construction company.
Baithia Evodie Yanguendji is one of them.
Having grown up in a low-income suburb where unemployment is common among the youth, the 23-year-old knows the importance of hard work.
Her diligence paid off one year ago when she was hired by Anda for its mega project to construct an extension for the University of Bangui including four six-storey buildings, which serve for student apartments, and two amphitheaters.
"I always dream to become a civil engineer and so when the opportunity came up, I went for it instantly," she said.
Dressed in a shiny yellow safety jacket and a hard-blue hat, Yanguendji said she is unperturbed about being among the only five women working in the construction site.
"My work here consists of monitoring, supervising and controlling. I am interested in getting the job done. It doesn't matter who I'm working with," said the civil engineering graduate from a public university as she mingled with some male casual laborers while giving instructions on the construction of the extension project.
Just a few meters away, Princia Hillary Koinda Yamanga, a third-year female student in civil engineering, shouting above the din of a concrete mixer said, challenges have never clouded her dream of becoming a successful engineer and improving the living standards of her family.
"(It is) often said that engineering profession is reserved for men. When I was very young, I saw a female civil engineer on TV who inspired me. That's why I opted for this job," said the 22-year old who joined the project three months ago as an intern.
These girls belong to a growing army of skilled female engineers in CAR who are eager to rebuild the country shattered by civil war.
"The war has made it difficult for girls and women to find jobs. Unemployment is high. That is why I am very grateful to the Chinese for offering me this opportunity," said Yamanga.
The Chinese she is referring to is He Yaxian, an Anda manager. She is at the forefront of getting more female engineers design and build the physical infrastructure that sculpts CAR.
"Our project has offered jobs for women, given them the opportunity to learn more things. Some girls were studying civil engineering at university, then we will try to get them to work and communicate with Chinese engineers, so that they can learn technology, and become independent and professional civil engineer, this is our original intention," He told Xinhua.
She said her experience has proven that women are as good as men in construction work.
"We also have technicians, for example, the ones who tie the steel bars are usually men, but when we let the women try it, they also do it very well, and they are very careful. We hope that women can also take the lead in these fields," she added.
Finally, the one-year working experience with the Chinese company has not only provided steady income to Yanguendji, polished her professional skills but significantly empowered her.
"I feel more independent now. I won the respect of workers here because I can do this as well as men," she said.
"Before being recruited at Anda, I was a student and it was my family who pays for transport, but today with what I have, it allows me to pay for transport and take care of my little brothers," said Yanguendji.
For her own part said she is now able to interpret complex designs and operate sophisticated machines thanks to Anda. She even aspires to pursue post-graduate studies in civil engineering.
Few girls complete secondary education in CAR due to widespread poverty and the perception among parents that girls should carry out domestic duties.
If they are in school, girls receive little encouragement to pursue mathematics and science subjects, often considered the domain of boys, said Apollinaire Mokotemapa, head of department of civil engineering of the University of Bangui.
"Anda has really done well to recruit girls in the construction site. This would surely inspire young girls to study mathematics and sciences and take up the profession themselves," Mokotemapa said, adding that cooperation between CAR and China "has been favourable" and has "significantly revamped" the country's economy. ■
Princia Hillary Koinda Yamanga, a civil engineer intern of Anda, a Chinese construction company, is seen at a construction site in Bangui, Central African Republic, Feb. 21, 2022. (Photo by Erick/Xinhua)
A female worker ties steel bars at a construction site in Bangui, Central African Republic, Feb. 21, 2022. (Photo by Erick/Xinhua)
