Hailing from the southern //Kharas region of Namibia, Alenique Juneve’ Damens proudly describes herself as the region’s first female boilermaker. She hopes to leave a legacy for her son and inspire those who look up to her. Becoming a successful boilermaker in Namibia remains a challenge for many women, as the trade is often seen as requiring one to “be strong like a man.” 
For Damens, this challenge was an opportunity to be different and to prove that women are just as capable in the industry. Born into a family of teachers and pastors, Damens was expected to follow in their footsteps. However, her desire to stand out led her to choosing a different and unique path. “I looked at what my uncles and aunts studied and realized all the career gaps in my family were filled.
It came to my attention that we had only one female artisan, an electrician. I told my grandfather and uncles that I wanted to pursue a career that no one in our family had ever done,” she recalled. After consulting her male cousins about technical schools, she was surprised to learn that technical subjects were not taught to girls in school. This left her with many unanswered questions. “My question was: WHY? The men in my family told me it was because these fields were meant for men.
After contacting Windhoek Vocational Training Centre (WVTC) to find out if women could also apply, I received a positive response. I decided to apply despite my family’s objections. I didn’t listen to the naysayers. My grandfather eventually supported my choice, and after passing my aptitude test, I was accepted at WVTC to study as a boilermaker.” That marked the beginning of her journey. Becoming a female boilermaker came with its fair share of challenges. 
Damens still recalls how men in her workplace would laugh at her and discourage her from performing the same tasks as them. “Men in the working environment used to laugh at me and didn’t approve of me being a boilermaker. They’d always say, ‘This is not an easy job, and it’s not a trade for a woman,’” she said. During her apprenticeship in Walvis Bay at Namdock, she went to great lengths to be treated as an equal. “I didn’t want people to know I was a woman so they wouldn’t limit me from working in the tanks with them. I covered my face with a ski mask (balaclava),” she shared.
She described the experience as incredible, as it was her first time working in the tanks. She carried the water pump on her back, set it up, pumped out water, and cut out metal parts that needed replacing. “It was epic until it got too hot in the tank, and I was forced to remove my balaclava. The men started laughing at me. I told them that if I hadn’t worn the balaclava, they would have limited me from entering the tanks. I made them promise never to limit me and to treat me like a boilermaker, not just a woman, so I could gain all the knowledge I needed.” 
While biases and stereotypes are common for women in male-dominated industries, Damens said her outstanding work and willingness to prove her capabilities have helped her overcome them. “Biases and stereotypes are very common and something women in men’s industries face all the time,” she noted. She recalled a time when her supervisor seemingly set her up for failure by assigning her a leadership role on a demanding project and pairing her with two other female trainees. “The supervisor, for instance, gave me two female trainees to work with on a full maintenance project for a dump truck bucket, likely expecting us to fail.” Instead of faltering, she devised a strategy. “First, I assessed the strengths of the women on my team and distributed tasks accordingly. Second, I found out when the bucket needed to be completed. Then we worked on a time schedule, set a target, and worked tirelessly to deliver the dump truck bucket on time. This is how you gain respect as a woman in the trade from your bosses, supervisors, and everyone who underestimates you.” Damens takes pride in the milestones she has achieved, particularly those that came after she furthered her studies. “My proudest achievement was after advancing my studies as an assessor, moderator, and evaluator. I successfully registered through the Namibian Training Authority (NTA) to mark the National Boilermaker trade test every year, alongside my instructors who had once groomed me in the field and marked my trade test when I was a trainee. That’s my biggest personal achievement,” she shared. 
Understanding the significance of her presence in the industry, Damens explained, “My presence in the boilermaker field is having a positive impact on the confidence of young women and men who want to pursue their dreams of becoming artisans. When I visit schools and talk to young people in technical fields, I can see their enthusiasm. When I address young girls, I always tell them: never let anyone make you believe that women are less capable than men. Yes, as women, we must put in more work, more time, and give it our all. If I could do it, you can do it too.” 
She advises young women and girls who wish to pursue careers as artisans or boilermakers to brace themselves, as the journey is not easy. “Being a boilermaker is not a walk in the park; you need to be very passionate. It’s a detailed and interesting trade that is physically demanding, requires risk-taking ability and quick decision-making skills,” she said. 
Further emphasizing that the job sometimes requires working in hazardous environments, a thrilling yet challenging experience but one that offers variety. “One of the things I enjoy most is that you don’t do the same repetitive job every day. So dive into it and experience the adventure of being a woman in boiler-making,” she said. 
Emphasizing the changes she would like to see, Damens hopes for greater opportunities for young people, especially girls, to explore technical fields from a young age. She pointed out subjects such as design technology and technical drawing as essential to helping students gain understanding and direction in their career choices. 
She concluded with a powerful message: “Never let anyone tell you that being an artisan is just for men. I never listened to anyone’s opinions. You put in the hard work, stay dedicated, set your goals, and do the necessary research. Most importantly, be true to yourself. My slogan is: ‘Remember, if you can dream it, you can do it.’”