15 Aug 2013

With the economic conditions not improving for many Batswana, traditional gender roles are also changing.

In the past, some trades were considered feminine or masculine, hence it would have raised eyebrows for a woman to earn a living through welding as it was considered a male profession. However, as the job market becomes hostile to women in their traditional roles, some have been forced to go this route.

This is what led 42-year-old single mother of four, Ms Patricia Dodile, to open a welding workshop at Monarch in Francistown. She was one of the exhibitors at the just-ended Women's Expo in Francistown.

In an interview, she said after searching for a job for many years without success, she had to find a way to survive and a means to raise her children. She credits her former soul mate, who was also a welder as the one who introduced her to the craft of welding.

When their relationship ended in 2005, she decided to venture into a welding business. She started by hiring two male welders who taught her the trade in her workshop in her Monarch East home.

When she started her welding workshop, Ms Dodile says she faced excitement and jeers from friends and relatives, with the latter telling her that welding caused blindness. She came across clients who looked down at her because they did not believe that a woman could weld and produce good designs.

However, she remained strong against the challenges, to an extent that she ended up commanding a big customer base. She added that unlike knitting that she did before, welding offers better income. She works on orders only. Ms Dodile’s workshop designs donkey carts, buglar windows and doors as per specifications from clients.

The business received a boost from the poverty eradication fund. In December 2010, the business took a nosedive when thieves broke into her workshop and stole all her welding machinery.

“It was during the festive season and many customers were requesting my services but I could not serve them, hence I had to solicit funds from relatives and friends,” she said. She intends to go to Madirelo Training and Testing Centre for a certificate in welding. She lamented lack of knowledge about the tendering process which she said could boost her business.

She plans to secure a workshop in the industrial area where she can operate and design on a large scale. In business, she said, one had to make friends and network to increase her customer base and loyalty.

Also, she said, the cleanliness of her workshop is key to keeping her customers comfortable and feeling at home. She said the women expo has generated funds for her business, as some of her displayed products were purchased. The expo also gave her exposure.

“Doing a male dominated business has made me strong and I am ready to face any challenge in life,” Ms Dodile said.

She plans to add upholstery to diversify her business operations, she also said some of her clients have requested for upholstery services which she believed will grow her business. Ends