San Juan Mayor Miguel A. Romero Lugo announced the launch of the 'Handywoman' program, run by the city’s Office for the Integral Development of Women (ODIM), which began with 28 participants. The initiative offers hands-on training in home construction and maintenance skills, including roof sealing, tile installation, crack repair, plumbing, painting and preparing estimates. Workshops are held at the city’s Department of Operations and Ornamentation facilities and run through December 12.
The program is aimed mainly at unemployed women or those working part time, so they can apply the skills independently at home and expand their economic opportunities. More than 200 women applied for the 28 available slots, and ODIM used an interview process to select participants based on their commitment to completing the sessions. ODIM director Valerie Rivera Vargas said the program is designed so participants learn by doing, combining knowledge and practice so skills are useful from the first day.
The program, developed in collaboration with the Department of Operations and Ornamentation, has a $23,000 investment from San Juan’s regular funds. Graduates will receive a certificate and a toolbox. Romero Lugo said the more than 200 applications for 28 spots shows the demand for this type of training and reaffirms the importance of developing alternatives that respond to women’s needs in the capital city.