Knowledge is one of the main tools that marks the process of societal transformation. Having access the different stages of education is directly related to the well-being of communities, and to the opportunities to improve the living conditions of people. This is how, in the hopes of building a better future, Yessika Arevalo decided to be part of our Seed Plan training program, which aims to link young people to the electricity sector, so that through the acquisition of knowledge in installation and maintenance of networks, they can have the necessary tools to get ahead and support their families.
A SEED TO TRANSFORM THE FUTURE
Before joining the Seed Plan, Yessika went to school and had a part-time job to cover the costs of her studies. Although she knew how important it was to go to school, at some point she thought that she would have to give up her education, since her lifestyle was not sustainable over time, and her economic situation was not stable. It was then that her brother told her about our program and without thinking twice she decided to join the initiative. In this way, after 15 intense months of training and technical instruction, Yessika became one of the first women to work as an electrical networks technician at our company.
“By joining the program, the company offered us studies and offered us an economic incentive. Honestly for me it was a great opportunity. My brother and I signed up together, and it went very well, because we were the top two in the group”
Thanks to this program, which we developed in 2014 together with the Enel Colombia Foundation, different areas of the company and multiple partners, we have been able to contribute to the education and professional development of young Colombians, and at the same time, throughout the years, we have given the country a qualified workforce, which allows us as a company to improve the quality of the energy service we bring to our customers, and contribute to the progress of Colombia.
SHIFTING PARADIGMS IN OUR SECTOR
Since we implemented the Seed Plan, more and more women are joining our initiative. 4 years ago, 1% of the participants who registered were women, this figure has increased exponentially and now has a 38% female participation in the program.
For Yessika, doing electrical network technique work has been an experience full of great challenges, among which she has had to lay her own path in a traditionally masculinized sector such as electricity.
She started her career with us, as an apprentice in the emergency response area, but it was her desire and perseverance that allowed her to climb up positions within the company. Today she can proudly say that she is a team leader at Enel-Codensa, and she also re-enrolled in the Seed Plan to complete the network supervision technologist program.
“My effort to learn, the commitment to improve myself and my attitude toward life, is what has allowed me to achieve what I have achieved, and this motivates me to achieve even more”
