Gender Equality Dominican Republic Project #6980

Unleash the Leader in a Girl

by The Mariposa DR Foundation

Project Report | Feb 2, 2024
Another Mariposa Smashes the Glass Ceiling

By Jessica Lawson | Co-founder

When we started this work nearly 15 years ago, we dreamt of a day when all of our girls would make it to the eighth grade. Today, they have far exceeded expectations and the majority of them are graduating high school and even college! The Mariposa Volando or "Flying Butterfly" program is our fastest growing initiative. A Mariposa Volando is a young woman that has graduated from high school and continues to be supported by Mariposa through assistance with scholarship funds, internships, career training and more.

Meet Kenia - just one of the Mariposas that has completely smashed the glass ceiling.

Kenia started Mariposa programs at just eight years old. This creative, ambitious little girl was born in the Dominican Republic to Haitian immigrants. She quickly learned how to adapt to mulitple cultures and at an early age began to emerge as a leader amongst her peers.

Kenia was always a hard worker. As she grew up in Mariposa, this big-hearted, open-minded young woman began to mentor younger girls. With her can-do attitude, it's no wonder they all looked up to her.

This past year, after graduating high school, Kenia was accepted to the prestigious United World College in Thailand. She earned a partial scholarship, however it is through the generosity of our amazing donors like you that we were able to secure the full amount needed for her to embark on her educational journey to the other side of the world.

It took a lot of people, months of paperwork and multiple trips to the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, to secure the proper documentation and visas for Kenia to be able to leave the country to pursue her dreams. The road was bumpy and full of challenges, but she remained positive and persistent and we were able to send her off to Thailand in December on the adventure of a lifetime.

For the next two years, Kenia will study alongside some of the best and brightest students from all over the world. Her story is a shining example of the difference that you all are helping to make in the lives of girls born into poverty.

None of this would have been possible without you and we thank you for your support.

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