Born and raised in Santiago, Chile, Maricela is 33 years old and has been working in the maintenance and reinstallation of solar photovoltaic panels.

She secured her position just one month after graduating from the seven-week Generation Chile Solar Panel Installer program, made possible thanks to the support offered by JPMorgan Chase and the Viento Sur Foundation.

Before working with solar panels, Maricela tried her hand at a wide range of jobs. She lived with her father, a concierge, and her mother, a domestic helper, always sharing the household expenses. Driven by a constant search for new opportunities, she worked as a shelf stocker, baked cakes, crafted wooden boat replicas, and did construction work. After completing a welding course, she chose to pursue welding as her profession.

“I really like it, but being a female welder is extremely challenging due to the sexism that exists in this field. That was one of the reasons I chose to work on my own: to have more control over my work environment and routine. However, my income was unstable, and I wanted to study something new. I love learning new things,” she said.

Last year, while seeking greater stability, Maricela discovered the Generation Chile program through an Instagram advertisement. She immediately recognized it as an ideal opportunity that suited her background and ambitions. “I find solar power energy extremely interesting. The course content was very comprehensive, not just technical, but also equipping us with soft skills. The employability training taught us how to write a CV, prepare for interviews, and more. So, I was ready to start looking for jobs as soon as I graduated from the Generation Chile program.”

Although she was only recently hired, Maricela is excited about the work environment, the benefits, and the professionalism and safety standards at her new job. She says the program boosted her confidence in her own abilities and motivated her to pursue even greater goals.

“The sun will always shine, and I am very happy that I now understand how solar panels work and can build a career in this growing field.”