MAKING WOMEN COUNT!

Every morning after finishing my house chores, on my way for our community service project of a drainage and walk way construction, I usually call on my neighborhood friends so we could go together. It was always refreshing and never boring walking with friends, arguing about things and learning new things as well. For instance, I learnt that; the longest street in the world is Yonge street in Toronto Canada measuring 1,896km, the average human brain contains around 78% water and dreamt is the only word that ends in ‘mt’. I also discovered from my Fulani friend whose family rears cattle that, cow don’t have upper front teeth. Although, I never noticed it, but I didn’t believe him till I confirmed it myself.

On my first day, I was unaware of the names of most materials. Learning the names and functions of each material and process was exciting! Being a female, I felt more confident knowing these things. On my first day, one would think because I’m a female, I would remain on the sidelines like the other females and just watch or do menial jobs like holding the emergency flag. But no, I first observed how the work was being done by the males. Yes, I have seen how the digger is being raised in an arc across the head before bringing it down to strike several times. Hence, I retrieved a tool from one of the boys that was tired and joined in the digging. next, I pushed wheelbarrows of the dug-up drainage to fill at the erosive area where the walk way is to be constructed. My engagement in the drainage construction process served as an example to girls who were feeling inferior and also, proved to our male counterparts that, we females, are equal to the task. As we began to know each other, We shared many laughs and stories while we worked. It was satisfying because we were improving each other’s lives.

As the project progressed, I now had experience in more things, like the pattern of laying blocks, the meaning of casting, curing and their importance each and the mixing of sand and cement. Also, I found out that there is need for the drainage to be reinforced in order for it to bear external and internal load. And during reinforcement appilcation, there are also precautions to adhere to. There are different sizes of reinforcement. The 6,8 and 10 mm are used for stirrups and cannot be used for beam and column, as well as in casting pillars and columns because they are too small... I took pleasure in how much I’ve learned at the construction site and how it will benefit me for the rest of my life. But most importantly, I succeeded in not only being a role model to other girls at the site, I now had more interesting and convincing stories to tell young girls who feel inferior in my neighborhood and beyond about how we could make ourselves count!