Janeth Bonilla, a Kichwa born 28 years ago in Ashambuela, Ecuador, has been breaking stereotypes and barriers in her country for some time, although the litmus test began after she graduated in Agricultural Engineering in 2020. “My grandparents have always been involved in agriculture and since I was little I have been with them in the fields and I am passionate about the life cycle of plants and animals and how to communicate with Pachamama,” says the young woman, now an agricultural specialist at Banco Pichincha, the largest bank. land private.
It was her father who pushed Bonilla and her older sister to study at university. “Men have played an important role in my professional development, from my father who encouraged me to go to university to the professors I met there who helped me gain confidence in my abilities and talents win,” she says.
It was difficult to gain the trust of the farmers, who didn’t believe that I was the engineer in charge, but asked to speak to a real engineer, that is, a man
15 days before the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic in Ecuador, he graduated and his entry into the job market was tough. “They required a lot of experience, but I didn’t have it and I didn’t know how to gain it,” he explains. In addition, there was pronounced discrimination because she was a woman and an indigenous person. While his opportunity arose, Bonilla devoted himself to volunteering and joined the Kichwa Institute of Science of Technology (KISTH) Foundation, which promotes the use of STEM Calls, an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). ), as complementary elements to the knowledge of the ancestors for the benefit of the needs of the communities.
“Today, I have the privilege of being the Vice President of KISTH,” says Bonilla, who is involved in the innovative projects Warmi STEM (promoting science education for Kichwa women) and RunaSpace (a project developing an idea for growing microgreens in space) worked. with pride. .
In February 2021, the long-awaited opportunity came. As an agricultural engineer. “They told me it wouldn’t even take 15 days because the work was very hard,” he recalls. But the really difficult part was enduring the constant belittling of being a woman. “It was difficult to gain the trust of the farmers, who didn’t believe I was the engineer in charge and asked to speak to a real engineer, that is, a man.”
In 2022, Bonilla quit her job and flew to Madrid to train in leadership and teamwork with a scholarship from the Pablo VI Foundation, an international experience that left a deep impression on her and that, back in Ecuador, opened the doors of Future Leaders for her Program for them Pichincha Bank. “This program allowed me to acquire new tools, which allowed me to join the bank’s agribusiness cell,” he says.
“They rated me as a professional”
After completing his training, he successfully applied for his position as an agricultural clerk, which he had held since November 2022. “It was the nicest interview I’ve ever attended, they rated me as a professional, based on my skills and knowledge, without negatively assessing my status as a woman and as an indigenous person,” she says, touched.
Already in her new job, she was invited by One Young World, a network of young leaders, to be one of the ambassadors at a meeting in Manchester (UK) in 2022. “I had to prepare myself to be able to speak English in front of 2,000,000 world leaders from different fields,” he confirms.
They evaluated me based on my skills and knowledge as a professional, without negatively weighting my status as a woman and as an indigenous person.
Bonilla was subsequently nominated for the Women that Build Awards, awards that recognize, support and encourage leading women in technology. “I was excited when I found out about it, but I suffered from impostor syndrome because I didn’t think I deserved this award,” he says. Eventually, she received the Rising Star award for the geographic area of Ecuador and Peru, recognizing “empowered women who are launching their careers and making a positive impact.”
“It was a year full of achievements, but also great resilience. Good and bad feelings that connected me even more to my roots,” he emphasizes, referring to the death of a grandmother and the precarious state of health of another. Aware that many people are starting to see her as a role model, Bonilla is sending a key message for the future of the young Indigenous generations. “Education is important and unfortunately access in indigenous communities is still poor and only a small percentage of our young people go to university,” he says.
The causes are often related to the lack of internet and the fact that young people study and work at the same time. “Education should be aligned with the way of life and the culture of the communities to enable full development and encourage curiosity to learn without bias and discrimination,” says Bonilla. In addition to education, the young woman asks young people to look at their journey in recent years and not be afraid of not being up to the task. “Failure shouldn’t be a limitation, but a bet to do better. We need to focus on those who believe in us,” she concludes.
Follow PLANETA FUTURO on TwitterFacebook and Instagram and subscribe to our “Newsletter” here.