By Jessica Lawson | Co-founder
Being a teenage girl is hard. Being a teenage girl living in extreme poverty is more difficult than most of us could ever imagine. All teens are under an immense amount of stress and pressure. Between school, peer relationships, changing bodies and trying to understand who they are and what they want to become in the world, it’s a lot. On top of everything, poor girls are also dealing with being vulnerable to early marriage and childbirth, missing out on school because of domestic responsibilities, food and housing insecurity and lack of access to quality health care.
Health and wellness has always been central to our programming at The Mariposa Center for Girls and we are proud to be a true haven where girls can develop regular self-care practices that are essential to their success. Encouraging them and allowing them to tend to their individual physical and emotional needs helps prevent burnout, safeguard their physical and mental health and wellbeing, relieve stress, build resilience and increase their confidence and happiness.
At the Center, all girls have the opportunity to practice yoga and meditation, options for increased physical activity including swimming, biking, dance, volleyball, softball and tennis. They are served healthy plant-based meals and snacks. They have multiple spaces dedicated to personal care where they can get ready for school in a private space with clean water and access to hygiene items and the multiple outdoor learning spaces provide a calming environment for getting work done.
Once the girls come through the gate at Mariposa, they know that they can leave whatever is happening in the world behind for a little while and just focus on themselves and spend quality time with their peers and mentors in a safe and beautiful space that’s just for them. They know that they are fully supported and have access to trusted adults who can help them access any physical or mental health care needs that arise.
The sanctuary that we have been able to create together with your support is making a true difference in the daily lives of vulnerable girls who often feel unsafe in their world. The Center is their happy place and because of people like you, we continue to evolve and build and provide even more support to ensure that our girls are happy, healthy and well cared for so that they can reach their full potential.
None of this would be possible without you!
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