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Become a Skilled Tradeswoman with Buildher
Are you ready to build your future, literally? At Buildher, we train and empower women aged 18–60 to excel in construction through hands-on courses in:
- Carpentry & Joinery
- Painting & Decorating
- Tiling
- Cabinetry
- Solar Installation
Join a community of confident, certified tradeswomen transforming Kenya’s construction industry, one project at a time.
PROMOTING SUPPORT FOR WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION
Rallying support for women in construction is an ingredient for women thriving in the sector. For Buildher, mobilizing that support comes in different forms including an event that brings together the support system of the women in the program for a Family Day. The recently held event gave the women a chance to show their support systems what they do on a day-to-day basis and gave the attendees a chance to learn more about the Buildher program, the importance of their support and the impact the program unlocks for the women.
Q3 NEWSLETTER | NOVEMBER 2025
Explore the latest updates, stories, and milestones from Buildher’s journey to empower women in construction.
[Read the Q3 Newsletter]
Maureen Andeka
Trade: Tiling
Cohort 10
From Mama Fua to Skilled Tiler
Maureen Andeka didn’t complete primary school and spent years doing laundry work (mamafua) to survive. Today, she’s a skilled tiler working with other fundis, confidently taking independent job quotes and earning enough to fully support her household.
Since completing her training two years ago, Maureen has used her income to educate all five of her children as a single parent something she never imagined possible. She’s now planning for
retirement by purchasing land and preparing to relocate her family to a permanent home.
For Maureen, learning a trade didn’t just offer a job it transformed her ability to plan, provide, and lead. She’s living proof that incomefrom skilled work can unlock generational change.
“Every tile I laid was a step closer to my dream. I turned my hands into tools, my
sweat into savings, and my skill into a home where my children can dream bigger than I
ever did”
Lucy Mwikali
Trade: Carpentry and Joinery
Cohort 12
From Training Bench to Design Lab
After graduating from Buildher, she joined PG Bison—one of Kenya’s leading furniture manufacturing firms where she’s spent the last seven months mastering precision cabinetry. From hardware like camlocks and dowels to advanced drawer systems like Legra, Antaro, and Movento, she’s gained hands-on experience in high-end production.
What began as a job has become a career path. Her passion for design has led her into the company’s Research and Design department, where she’s now learning to use advanced design software like CV, AVDS, and Cutting List Optimizer during downtime. She’s not just applying skills she’s evolving into a specialist, proving that with the right foundation, women can lead in the most technical corners of the industry.
“Women should work in construction because it makes you valuable, you learn to depend on yourself and respect the hard work you do. It’s not just a skill, it’s a source of strength and pride.”
Mary Ouma
Trade: Painting & Decorating
Cohort 6
From Financial Strain to Site Leadership
Mary dropped out of university when her family could no longer afford tuition. Today, she’s not only back on her feet but also carrying others with her. After joining Buildher, Mary began taking independent painting contracts and built a trusted team of six artisans, most of them fellow alumnae. She now manages subcontract jobs of up to 10,000 square metres and is currently leading a 13,032 sqm exterior project with a 16-person crew. At her peak, she’s supervised teams of up to 60 workers.
Now helping her parent pay for her sibling’s university education, Mary is living proof that workforce training when paired with entrepreneurship and real opportunity can unlock leadership, financial resilience, and economic ripple effects for entire families and communities.
“I thought dropping out of university was the end of my story but Buildher helped me write a new one. Now I supervise a team, take on major projects, and support my family. When women are given the right tools, they succeed.”