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100 Women in Demining: a team of deminers for Angola

Since 2017, we have supported the project promoted by HALO Trust to involve the Angolan female population in the reclamation of mined land.

Getting rid of landmines

Between 1975 and 2002, Angola experienced one of Africa’s longest and most devastating civil wars. Tens of thousands of landmines were laid and today there are still 500,000 unexploded devices in various regions of the country. In the area around the village of Kanenguerere, in Benguela province (in the west of the country), the mines laid in the 1980s still pose a threat to local inhabitants and the semi-nomadic Mucubel people. In 2018, we helped create and train a team of female deminers engaged in clearing land within the province.

In November 2020 we renewed our support to the project for the third year in a row. With this donation the HALO Trust will be able to clear further 40,000m2 of land from mines in the Benguela province, in the town of Balombo, while also implementing Covid-19 awareness initiatives. This year the project will include specific Covid-19 awareness training and best practices including use of appropriate protection equipment.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is an action programme with 17 goals aimed at the social and economic development of communities and regions. Through the “100 women in demining” project we are contributing to the fulfilment of goals that aim to ensure health and wellbeing (Goal 3), achieve gender equality (Goal 5), incentivise an inclusive and sustainable economic growth that will last over time (Goal 8), protect, restore and promote a sustainable use of the Earth’s ecosystem (Goal 15), strengthen the means of implementation and renewal of the global partnership for sustainable development (Goal 17). 

Women at the heart of the project: photo gallery

The “100 Women in demining” initiative has enabled us to help increase the security of the local community by giving the female population job and training opportunities and the chance to learn new skills.

Safety first

Safety in the workplace is an imperative value we want to share with our employees, contractors and local stakeholders. We are committed to eliminate accidents and protect the integrity of our assets. We consolidate a culture of safety through management and organization models, digital tools and communication initiatives. Our goal is strengthening the awareness of our people and their sense of responsibility toward themselves and others, by expanding HSE tools and digitalization to make corporate processes safer, more efficient and faster. 

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The "100 Women in demining” project offers women a practical employment opportunity.

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This is not only men’s work. We can do the same sort of work as they do. Demining is positive for our country and its people. It means that people can work their land and care for their livestock in safety.”

Cristina, deminer

Impact on the environment and local communities

Through this initiative, we have been able to contribute to the emancipation of Angolan women, training 29 women (7 de-miners, 2 paramedics, 1 driver and 1 administrator) and giving them opportunities to work in the de-mining sector. We have also prevented many tragedies caused by exploding mines and restored land to the community.

The value of experience

In May 2018, our team visited the HALO “100 Women in De-mining” project, experiencing at first hand the difficult living conditions inside the mined perimeter of Kanenguerere. 

Partnership

The HALO Trust, our partner in this project, is the largest humanitarian organisation dedicated to demining.