Mayra, a deminer: doing her bit to protect the land and its people

Mayra Rosero, aged 33, is a deminer in El Vergel, a town in the department of Nariño in south-eastern Colombia. A native of the region herself, she works every day to clear the land of mines, a contribution that holds promise for the future of its residents.

Understanding and protecting the land

Mayra joined Humanity & Inclusion (HI) about a year ago. Originally trained in agriculture and livestock farming, she initially worked on her parents’ farm for many years before choosing a career in mine clearance.

“In my community, people were talking amongst themselves about HI and its demining work. That’s how I heard about the recruitment process; one of my friends was working for HI and I sent in my application driven by curiosity. Over time, I realised just how much this choice ties in with my background: demining is a job that allows me to learn something new every day about the history of these lands, as well as providing very practical help to everyone who lives here.”

Mayra was initially recruited as a non-technical surveyor; her role involved carrying out field assessments to identify potentially contaminated areas. To do this, she drew on the knowledge of local residents, who told her about past incidents and their concerns regarding certain parts of the area.

Thriving as part of a large family

At the end of 2025, Mayra decided to become a deminer. She then undertook three weeks of intensive training to learn the job.

Like many people, she was initially daunted, even worried, as the work is frightening. But that fear didn’t stop her: “Thanks to our training, the knowledge we’re taught and the experience we gain, the work becomes more tangible and we know we can carry it out safely. There will always be a risk, but the safety rules are there to protect us and our colleagues.”

Mayra works in a close-knit team of around ten people, who live together day and night on a six-week work cycle interspersed with two weeks’ rest.

“My colleagues are like a second family to me; we’re together all the time. At the end of our working day, we return to base camp to clean up, tidy away the equipment and have dinner. Afterwards, rather than going our separate ways, it’s not uncommon for us to get together to play cards, dominoes or have a quick game of football.”

Mayra loves her job and wants to keep developing. With her skills, she has everything it takes to gradually take on more responsibility.

“I want to keep pushing myself,” she explains, “and why not become a team leader or supervisor?”

Looking to the future

Mayra’s work is vital for the surrounding communities. She provides local residents with a sense of security that allows them to regain peace and peace of mind.

Indeed, once the demining teams have finished securing the land, communities can once again cultivate their fields, walk along their paths, go to the river, send their children to school or let them play outside.

“Landmines are designed to injure, maim and kill. By clearing them, I’m doing my bit, and I know it’s a huge help to the people who live here. By neutralising explosive devices and clearing the land, we prevent accidents and save lives.”

Seven months after starting her work as a deminer, Mayra found her first explosive device – an improvised mine, of the sort that are so common in Colombia. This moment is an unforgettable one in the life of any deminer, both dreaded and longed for. She was overcome by intense emotions, a mixture of fear and joy.

“My joy was immense, because at that moment I knew I had saved a life. That’s why we’re here – to make the land and its people safe, to bring peace of mind and to build a future for and with the communities.”