Educate. Empower. Employ.
At Mariposa, we measure success by using 3 key milestones:
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Did you know? “1 in 4 girls in the Dominican Republic drop out of school due to pregnancy” (Borgen Project, 2017).
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Did you know? In the Dominican Republic, 1 in 8 girls are pregnant before the age of 15 and 1 in 3 girls before the age of 18 (Girls Not Brides, 2023).
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Did you know? Across the Dominican Republic, girls are expected to complete unpaid domestic labor (cook, clean, babysit, etc) starting between 6-9 years olds.
An educated girl transforms her family, her community, and the world.
In the Dominican Republic, girls face steep barriers to education and opportunity. They are often the first to be pulled from school and among the most vulnerable to early pregnancy and gender-based violence.
At Mariposa, we are changing that narrative.
Our programs reach girls ages 7–18+ living in poverty, providing comprehensive support that allows them to stay in school, pursue their dreams, and break intergenerational cycles of inequality.
When girls are educated and empowered, they delay marriage, earn income, raise healthy families, and reinvest in their communities.
Girls are the world’s most powerful force for change.
Empowering Girls. Transforming Communities.
At the Mariposa DR Foundation, we believe that when girls are educated, empowered, and celebrated, they can change the world.
Our holistic programs reach over 200 Dominican and Haitian girls through a wide range of initiatives—from arts and sports to reproductive health, leadership, and mental wellness. These aren’t just activities—they are proven strategies that reduce early pregnancy, prevent gender-based violence, and create pathways to brighter futures.
Whether it’s learning to play the piano, surf the waves, speak their truth, or lead their communities, every Mariposa girl is growing into her full potential.
We know that girls are uniquely capable of changing everything.
Girls Breaking Barriers. Girls Leading Change.
Meet a few of the many Mariposa girls who are rewriting their futures—and redefining what’s possible for girls in the Dominican Republic.
Despite steep odds, they are graduating, getting jobs, launching businesses, and leading in their communities. These are not isolated stories—they are proof of what happens when girls are given the opportunity to thrive.
At Mariposa, we don’t just educate girls.
We equip them to lead, to rise, and to change the world around them.