Adriana Soares

“I never realized how much I loved my job until I started seeing the buildings I helped build towering over the city skyline. It's like leaving a little piece of my heart in every construction site I work on.”

Adriana is a Timorese woman in her thirties who dons her hard hat and steel-toed boots every day for her job in construction. Despite the physically demanding nature of her work, Adriana is filled with energy and motivation. As the only woman on her team, she takes pride in being a role model for other young women in East Timor who may be hesitant to pursue careers in male-dominated industries. In her free time, Adriana enjoys dancing traditional Timorese folk dances and reading poetry.

What inspired you to pursue a career in construction?

My uncle was a construction worker and he always talked about how rewarding it was to build something from scratch. I wanted to experience that sense of accomplishment for myself.

What is your favorite thing about East Timor?

The food! I love the fresh seafood and the blend of flavors in our traditional dishes.