The chain of stores specialized in decoration and DIY Brico Depot has launched the initiative “We Build Together Challenge”, with which it aims to promote the inclusion and participation of women in the construction industry and break gender stereotypes through education and the training.
In a sector traditionally dominated by men, the presence of women is still small. And with the mission of promote greater equality, The company has launched a challenge in which several schools in Madrid and their students will participate. It is a kind of diy olympics in which the participants will immerse themselves will demonstrate their skills and competencies in projects related to carpentry, plumbing or electricity, as shared by the company in a statement.
40 students between 14 and 15 years old will participate in the competition.
“Desafio Construemos Juntos” will be held on October 15 at the Brico Depôt store in Majadahonda and will bring together 40 students, between 14 and 15 years old, from the Madrid schools Santa María de los Apóstoles, Colegio Tres Olivos, IES Margarita Salas and GSD Moratalaz.
In addition, the initiative will have the presence of four professional women in the sector and content creators, who will conduct workshops and guide the students in each test. They will be Isabel Obrero, specialized in artisanal furniture; Raquel López, electrician; Sylvia Salas, specialist in DIY and decoration; and Jennifer López, plumber.
All of them will also share their experiences in the world of DIY and construction, and will be accompanied by women of the company team. These will act as support and guide, providing their knowledge of the various disciplines and their experience in the industry.
Both the creators and the employees of Brico Depôt will be in charge of evaluate the competition based on three fundamental pillars: teamwork, project execution and results in appearance and functionality. From the company they point out that the challenge will conclude with a award for the winners.
“We want young women to see that they have a place in this industry, where they can thrive professionally.”; Sandra Zárate, Director of Digital & Marketing at Brico Depôt Iberia, commented in the statement. “This challenge is a fun and practical way to give them the tools and knowledge to break gender stereotypes.”.
This is the first edition of the initiative, although as Brico Depôt has announced, the intention is expand the project to other Spanish cities in the future, reaching more young people in our country.
School principals believe that the challenge will help promote the visibility of women in a sector that still has deep-rooted stereotypes. They also point out that it aligns with the values they try to instill every day and that it offers a scenario to discover professional opportunities, potentials, and motivations.
Brico Depôt’s intention is to empower young women
“We Build Together Challenge” is part of the platform “We build better” by Brico Depôt, with which it promotes diversity and inclusion in the sector. The goal is to raise awareness about inequality and empower young women through practical training.
The company shares that seven out of ten professionals in the sector consider that the presence of women in this industry is unequal with respect to the representation of men. In addition, they point out that 76% of professionals say that women who work in renovations and construction do so in administrative positions.
