Fundación Laboral de la Construcción is coordinating its first transoceanic project 'Women Can Build LatAm', co-funded by the European Union's Erasmus+ programme, to promote the training of women in the construction sector in Latin America, together with five organizations from Spain (Agencia para el Empleo del Ayuntamiento de Madrid), Italy (Istituto per l’Istrucione Professionale dei Lavoratori Edili della provincia di Bologna), Chile (RedMaestra and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile) and Argentina (Fundación Eurosur para la Cooperación entre América Latina y la Unión Europea). 

This initiative continues with the 'Women Can Build' project, also led by Fundación Laboral de la Construcción between 2017 and 2020, in order to promote the results of the initiative and transfer to Latin America the good practices achieved during the first edition. 

The main objective of 'Women Can Build LatAm' is focused on the transfer of knowledge on training and employability, and on disseminating European tools and protocols for the employability of women in the construction sector to Latin American countries (in this case, Chile and Argentina). In addition, the aim is to enhance the responsiveness of institutions and VET systems as a driver of sustainable socio-economic development. 

Empowering women in the sector 

Through 'Women Can Build LatAm' the five partners, led by Fundación Laboral de la Construcción, will develop: 

• A report on the situation of the sector or Status Quo in the Latin American countries involved. 
• An Action Plan for the qualification and insertion of women in the construction sector. 
• A virtual compendium of good practices to promote equality and the incorporation of women in the sector. 
• The 'Purple Book of Women in Construction'. 
• The creation of a network of alliances for the promotion of women in the sector. 
• Activities for the promotion and visibility of women in construction. 

All this will be carried out through a collaborative work methodology in which interviews, focus groups, expert panels and workshops will be held with different agents involved (women, trainers and construction companies). In addition, alliances will be created at international level and a virtual space will be designed to give greater visibility and share good practices. 

'Women Can Build': a catalyst for gender equality in the sector 

The 'Women Can Build' project has been an example of good practice with national and European Union impact, whose multiplier value has led Fundación Laboral de la Construcción to extend it to certain Latin American countries. 

The lessons learned from the first initiative have increased the number of "female" professionals working in the sector, helping to improve the diversity of professionals on construction sites, where, in addition to the technical work, constant awareness-raising and dissemination work has been carried out to make them visible.

More than 100 testimonies from women workers in the sector were collected during the 'Women Can Build' project and more than 500 surveys were conducted with teachers and more than 60 gender experts. More than 150 media impacts were reported, and the project was widely disseminated at more than 30 events. In addition, 50 women were trained through various pilot courses in Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Portugal, introducing them to different trades in the sector and improving their career opportunities.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.