Memuna Anaba’s passion is to be a welder but her house chores often get in her way. It is a situation she is not happy about but deals with as a trade-off for learning her preferred trade skill.
As an apprentice welder in the Tindonsobligo community, a suburb of Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, Memuna says she is the toast of conversation in the community for following her passion.
Speaking to Moses Apiah, a Reporter with A1 Radio, Memuna explained that she never liked to do work that was presumed to be women’s field.
She said, “growing up as a child I never liked hairdressing or tailoring. All I wanted to do is to be a welder. I never thought it will be that insulting from neighbours and friends. They usually referred to me as a man in a woman’s body. On daily basis, I hear that a lot, but since joining this welding work for eight months, I have not regretted it. I usually console myself that there is no work meant for men or women. So, I don’t regret my decision.”
Metal Fabrication requires physical strength and being a female in this occupation in a very conservative community requires a lot of determination and mental strength, these qualities have set Memuna apart on the job.
Touching on the performance of Memuna, Kenneth Abdul Malik, a senior apprentice noted that though her house chores form part of her struggles to learn the job, she sometimes performance better and fast than some of her colleagues’ apprentices.
“I don’t see her as a female when it comes to work; we do it equally work. Even sometimes she will do it far better than some of us who are even senior apprentices. So, one thing I will encourage her is she should not let what others will say to prevent her from doing her dream job”, he added.
Rashid Akolgo, the owner of Rashid Welding and Fabrication shop, said when Memuna first approached him, seeking to understudy the job, he was surprised and thought that she was joking.
Mr Akolgo added that even though he doubted Memuna’s capabilities, he offered her the opportunity with the mindset that she will not last till the end of the day.
“I didn’t believe what my eyes were seeing, I asked her to repeat what she said again. Then, I explained the difficulties welding comes with and how some of the guys here are struggling. But she insisted. And today, I can confidently say, she is doing well. So, I think we should begin giving chance to anyone who wants to learn any trade their hearts desired for”, he added.
Meanwhile, the 22-year-old was not only happy that her parents are being supportive but hope that girls will be given equal opportunities to showcase their talents in any field.
“The time for us as ladies to begin realizing that there is no work purposely meant for men the better. Let’s get ourselves busy. How many people nowadays even go for hairstyling? So, I want authorities to open more opportunities for girls to fit in and support us with loans anytime we are done with our training”, she appealed.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1 MHz| Moses Apiah| Tindonsobligo|Ghana
