When I was still at school, the only subject that attracted me was technical drawing. I was more attracted to machine design than to literary or other scientific courses. So when the time came to choose a vocational training course, I enrolled for a vocational training certificate in industrial maintenance at the Bizerte vocational training center. It was a bold choice, as I knew it was going to be a very male-dominated environment.

Right from the start of my training, I faced challenges and constraints. In addition to the standard challenges of this field, there was extra pressure on me as a woman to prove my worth. I worked twice as hard as my male classmates to earn their respect and prove that I was up to the job. I studied hard, asked questions, and showed my willingness to learn.

As training progressed, I began to take on internships in industrial companies. That's when I really fell in love with industrial maintenance. I discovered an exciting field, where every day was different. Solving technical problems, repairing equipment, and understanding production processes became a real passion for me.

Every time I solved a complex problem or repaired a faulty machine, I felt proud of myself because I was once again proving my legitimacy. This personal satisfaction gave me the strength to overcome the obstacles and prejudices I faced.

Today, by taking part in this job fair*, I hope to get my first job. I've had several promising interviews and some companies have even invited me to interview at their premises in the near future.

Awatef Omrani - Industrial Maintenance Apprentice - Bizerte Training and Apprenticeship Center.

*The Bizerte Job Fair (05/31/2023) is the fruit of collaboration between the Tunisian agency for vocational training (ATFP), private sector companies, and USAID Tunisia JOBS. The event brought 342 young people into direct contact with 47 partner companies.