Celebrating Women in Engineering: Three Engineers Share Their Stories

Called to a career field that has been dominated by men for centuries, Water Mission’s female engineers work diligently to ensure that people have access to safe water. On International Women in Engineering Day, we want to honor the women at Water Mission who are forging their own paths and inspiring other young women to do the same. 

At Water Mission’s Uganda country program, half of the engineers are women, and many of them started as interns. Water Mission Uganda is intentional about training young professionals, often receiving interns through UNHCR’s Graduate Trainee Program.  

According to WASH Engineer Evelyn Awori, the UNHCR program prioritizes recruiting women in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) engineering to bridge a gap in the industry. The female engineers at Water Mission Uganda have benefited from these programs, later moving into full-time positions. 

Recruited through UNHCR in 2022, Evelyn Awori was surprised when she was placed at a faith-based organization. She was even more surprised when she was sent across the country to work in the Arua District in Uganda’s West Nile region. Far from her family and living in a harsh, unfamiliar environment, Awori learned to trust in God. 

After working as a graduate trainee for several months, Awori applied for and was offered a permanent position as a WASH engineer with Water Mission. 

“Joining as a WASH engineer, I felt quite overwhelmed,” she said. “You are not in the background – you are on the frontlines, and you have to act.... I told God: You are the one who let me have this, and You are the same person who is going to go with me through this.” 

While the number of women in WASH engineering is growing, Awori shared that there is still a preconceived notion that engineering is a man’s field. 

“The other issue is we still have this stereotype within the communities that engineering is more of a men’s thing,” Awori said. “We have to create more awareness. We have to break the stereotypes within the communities…. If someone has gone through the engineering school, they have obtained the skills. They’ve been trained, [and] they are competent. They can do just the same as the men do.” 

After leaning on God to overcome many challenges, Awori is now approaching her three-year anniversary as a full-time engineer with Water Mission. 

In grade school, Eva Adiol always excelled in math and science. But during her last semester of high school, familial issues at home caused her to feel hopeless and depressed, impacting her schooling. 

A fellow student approached her and told her that God had placed a desire in her heart to encourage Adiol. “I didn’t know that God would speak to people,” Adiol said. “I didn’t know that God would move at such great heights to meet you.” 

After months of spiritual mentorship, Adiol gave her life to Christ. Years later, while studying engineering in school, her love for God led her to apply for an internship with Water Mission. 

“I think one of the most important things that really drew me [to Water Mission] was…the heart behind why the organization is in existence, why it’s growing, [and] why the Lord has continued to bless it,” Adiol said. “How is it even possible that there is a Christian-based organization out there with all these important core values of love, excellence, and integrity?” 

Now, Adiol has been a full-time assistant engineer at Water Mission for six months. 

“When I was a graduate intern, what I did for most of my time was to learn what the organization requires of me when it comes to designing the water systems, when it comes to testing different parameters,” she said. “When the role of assistant engineer was given to me, it showed me a place of trust, [and] it showed me a place of confidence.” 

But being a woman in engineering comes with unique challenges. Adiol shared a story of a friend questioning why she wanted to pursue a man’s career. These questions shocked Adiol at first. Growing up with an engineer as a father, she always felt that her family supported her pursuits. 

“I am actually the first female engineer in my entire clan,” Adiol said. “When I sit back, I realize some of the challenges that I face as a woman engineer...are quite unique and different to me.” 

Witnessing Lives Transformed: Winnie Nabudde Nadanga’s Story 

In 2023, Winnie Nabudde Nadanga began a graduate internship with Water Mission through the UNHCR program. After her training ended, she applied for a permanent position and has now been working as a WASH engineer at Imvepi Refugee Settlement for nine months. 

She shared that the training she received as an intern set her up for success in her future career. 

“The internship laid the whole foundation because I learned how to conduct technical assessments, engage with communities, [and] work with teams,” Nadanga said. “These skills made me transition into the WASH engineer role smoothly because I already understood the approach.” 

Since her internship, she has grown in her confidence and leadership skills, despite the challenges she faces serving refugees in Northern Uganda. 

After her first experience fixing a broken water system and seeing the happiness on people’s faces, Nadanga realized that her work is making a difference in people’s lives. 

“I feel like I’m living my purpose, because every day I wake up knowing that the work I do has an eternal value,” Nadanga said. “Being part of a team that brings safe water to people means a lot to me.” 

Around the world, women like Awori, Adiol, and Nadanga are creating solutions and changing lives. At Water Mission, we are thankful for engineers like them who make it possible for people in need to have access to safe water.