My name is Nguyen Thi Thuy Giang, a female field technician from Team BAC7. Our team began its operations in 2022 with 14 members. We are the first all-female demining team of PeaceTrees Vietnam in general and PTVNQT project in particular. Just like other demining teams, our daily work involves clearing, searching and disposing of EOs in confirmed hazardous areas, and subsequently handing over safe land to the community. The team has to work continuously on the fields for several months until the area is completely cleared.
A day in our daily life begins with preparing meals and getting ready for work. Some of us also have to prepare food and clothes for our children to go to school, as well as organizing household tasks. At 7 AM, we arrive at the field to start our working day. After receiving our tasks and work assignments from the team leader, we start setting up and testing equipment before begining our daily operations. By break time, we're all sweaty and exhausted, and we gather to relax. During these breaks, we frequently exchange our work experiences or personal stories with each other.
Our working day comes to an end when the assigned land area is cleared. In the beginning, both I and my female colleagues felt worried when facing and working directly with EOs and explosives. However, we have been equipped with comprehensive knowledge and a solid understanding of the standard operating procedures to accurately perform EO disposal tasks. We confront a challenging and hazardous job, and none of us can afford to be careless.
"3,2,1... Boom!" The deafening sound signifies the end of the waiting period, and the person responsible for the detonation proceeds to inspect the crater, confirming the successful disposal. It's the moment we know that a danger is no more, and only then can we return to our families with peace of mind.
With 20% of the female field technicians among the total staff of the Peacetrees Vietnam Project in Quang Tri, our team members, alongside other female employees, have made a significant contribution to executing tasks and achieving the project's targeted plans. Beyond our working hours on the field, we also participate in professional knowledge enhancement training, skill-building activities, as well as engaging in cultural, artistic, and sports programs, as well as EORE events at schools and communities.
The image of our work is clear evidence that women and young girls in the modern era can always do the jobs they desire and do them well, as long as they make the effort and strive for it.
We don't see ourselves as doing an exceptionally special job, and we don't think it's extraordinary. We are just doing regular work like many others, going through busy working days and cherishing the opportunities we have.
Stepping onto the clearance field, us women are dedicated professionals, but when we return home, we become wives, mothers, and dependable sisters in our families. Each step taken through the land marked by the remnants of unexploded ordnance poses many dangers, yet we come closer to the vibrant picture of our beautiful homeland, the place where we've cleared and brought safety to the community. It's my pride and the pride of all the women who work in mine clearance during peacetime.
Source: PTVN
