Ilsia Gutiérrez, barely 28 years old, is the only woman in Jucuapa who works as an electrician. Her path was not an easy one. Growing up in a community where technical jobs have historically been reserved for men was a challenge for her.
However, her passion for energy and her determination led her to enroll in the fourth category electrician training courses organized by AES El Salvador in conjunction with the Instituto Salvadoreño para el Desarrollo de la Mujer (ISDEMU).
“Many times I’ve been told that I’m going to burn myself. People find it strange to see a woman electrician. They also ask me if I am afraid of electricity, and I always answer: no, I am not afraid of it, I love my job!” commented Ilsia Gutiérrez.
Today, her work has not only made her a reference in her community, but has lit a light of inspiration in other young women. Wendy, a 20-year-old, is her apprentice.
“The first time Ilsia took me to work and started teaching me I really liked it. I admire her for all her knowledge and I want to become like her to become a woman electrician”, Wendy expressed.
Illsia’s story is also the story of a new generation of women who are turning on the lights of change in the labor landscape of El Salvador’s electrical sector. The inclusion of women in the energy world is vital for a sustainable and equitable future, and women like Ilsia and Wendy are the face of that change.
AES El Salvador
The duo’s reputation has grown, and now, instead of surprise, their clients express pride in having a female electrician in their community. Beyond wires and tools, Illsia has proven that electricity has no gender, and that technical skills are a matter of effort and knowledge, not stereotypes.
Ilsia's story is just one of many. In recent years, many women are becoming part of the electricity industry, helping to reduce the gender gap in the sector and offering a fresh and innovative perspective that is essential to move towards a sustainable andequitable development of the country.
At the end of the day, when the sun goes down and the lights begin to come on in the homes of Jucuapa, you can feel the impact of Ilsia’s work and the new generation of women electricians. It is a glow that goes beyond wires and connections: it is the light of a future full of opportunities for all.
When asked about the future, Ilsia doesn’t hesitate to say that she sees many more women in electricity. She dreams that in the years to come she will not be the only woman in Jucuapa in this trade. And with apprentices like Wendy by her side, that dream seems closer to becoming a reality.
Ilsia is the light that is igniting Jucuapa, illuminating not only homes and streets, but also minds and hearts. Her story is a reminder that when barriers are broken, the true power of transformation emerges, and in the process, everyone wins.
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