Nearly 40 women are receiving special training in Guadalajara to become the next wave of Mexican firefighters.
Traditionally in this country, firefighting has been considered a career almost exclusively for men. That mentality appears to be changing thanks to a new series of workshops promoted by the Jalisco Environment Ministry (Semadet), supported by several other Mexican government agencies and NGOs, as well as the U.S. Forest Service.
The workshops are taking place over six days in the Agua Brava training center in the Primavera Forest located on the west side of the Guadalajara metropolitan area. Of the 38 participants, ten are from Jalisco, while the rest are from ten other Mexican states, and Costa Rica.
Semadet Secretary Sergio Graf Montero said his department has earmarked 1.5 million pesos toward the project in this year’s budget.