Women train as firefighters in Papua New Guinea

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Papua New Guinea can be a difficult place for women where nearly every aspect of society is dominated by men. But a few women are breaking down gender barriers. They're training to become the country's first female firefighters, and hope to inspire other women to believe that they can do anything.

They're the first females to take part in the service's ten-week training course in the capital, Port Moresby. It's hot, and the work is physically-demanding and exhausting.

But these recruits feel a responsibility to women across Papua New Guinea to tough it out. One of the recruits says their experience proves that women in Papua New Guinea can do the same jobs as men if they try hard enough.

Fire chiefs admit it will take time for the men to warm to their new female colleagues. There are three more weeks of training to go before these women find out if they've successfully qualified to join their male colleagues.