The “Women Who Enlighten Life” project, which Günsan Elektrik implemented to create new work areas for women in the male-dominated electrical sector, has produced its first graduates. Günsan Elektrik CEO Francisco Gil Garcia presented certificates to 13 female electricians who successfully completed 508 hours of theory and practice training over a period of 3 months.
The “Women Who Illuminate Life” project, carried out by Günsan Elektrik in collaboration with the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services and İŞKUR Sancaktepe Service Center, has trained the first female electricians. Within the scope of the 3-month, 508-hour theoretical and practical training, 13 women who learned the basics of electricianship and also practiced in the field successfully completed their training and earned the right to receive the “High Current Installer” certificate. Günsan Elektrik CEO Francisco Gil Garcia presented the certificates to the female masters at the ceremony held at the Günsan Elektrik headquarters.
Women will break taboos in the electricity sector
Günsan Elektrik CEO Francisco Gil Garcia, who stated that they wanted to contribute to equal opportunities for women and men in a male-dominated sector such as the electricity sector with the Women Who Enlighten Life project, stated that they aimed to open new job opportunities for women who are unemployed and want to have a job, and said, “As Günsan Elektrik, we are breaking new ground in our sector with our innovative products and solutions, and we are also changing the traditional structure of the market. In this sense, we wanted to add value to our country, economy, society and sector with this project, which is very compatible with our vision. In our country, women’s participation in the workforce is still a bit behind compared to OECD countries. We launched the Women Who Enlighten Life project in order to both help close this gap and create new job opportunities for women. Hanife Kaymaz, who opened a shop in Üsküdar with her own means and practiced the profession of electrician, was the source of inspiration for our project. The increase in examples like Hanife Kaymaz is very important in terms of breaking taboos and eliminating the perception of the sector as a male sector. We, as Günsan Elektrik, took a step. “Our greatest wish is for this step to continue, for such initiatives to become an example for other organizations and to reach wider audiences,” he said.
Speaking at the ceremony, İŞKUR Sancaktepe Service Center Branch Manager Saliha Önen spoke about the contributions of the Women Who Enlighten Life Project to sustainable employment and congratulated the first graduates of the project. Samandıra Technical Vocational High School teachers who provided project training also stated that female master candidates had made much more progress than they expected in a short time.
“I have established myself in a male-dominated sector”
Hanife Kaymaz, who works as an electrician in her own shop that she opened 9 years ago in Üsküdar, Istanbul, congratulated the female masters who received their certificates and advised them to never hold back from doing the job they want. Kaymaz, who said that she did not act like a man to do her job and established herself as a woman, said, “Every job has its challenges, but the important thing is to want it and to continue despite the challenges. This is why the Women Who Enlighten Life project is so valuable. Because my female friends who are enthusiastic about this profession received comprehensive training thanks to Günsan Elektrik. I believe that they will do their jobs in the best way possible.”
In the first phase of the “Women Who Enlighten Life” project implemented by Günsan Elektrik, 13 women between the ages of 20-45, who were looking for a job and wanted to work, received training and graduated. The project will continue in the coming periods.