Celebrating All Graduates & the Class of 2026!

Here’s to the class of 2026! This year, the Mariposa girls took on the world with courage, pride, and incredible ambition.

We are especially proud of our flying butterfly, Nicole! Last week, Nicole graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla Washington with her BA in Neuroscience. With the support of Mariposa, Nicole’s mother and brother were able to travel to the U.S. and celebrate this momentous occasion with her. Dreaming big since she started Mariposa programs at just 8 years old, this is just the beginning for Nicole. She’s already planning to continue her studies with a Master’s degree next on her list. Nicole’s story is just one of many incredible stories from our girls.

This year, 15 Mariposa girls graduated from middle school and all of them will enroll in high school in the fall. 7 Mariposas graduated from high school, becoming “Mariposa Volandos” (Flying Butterflies) all of whom are either attending university or starting gainful employment. We could not be more proud of their extraordinary accomplishments. 100% of Mariposa girls graduate from middle school and high school and 90% of our graduates have gone on to either study at a university of higher education or gain formal employment.

With the school year coming to a close, we find ourselves especially moved by the 6th grade graduates. The transition into 6th grade is arguably one of the most pivotal moments in a girl’s life. In the Dominican Republic, 1 in 8 girls become pregnant before age 15 and more than 1.36 million adolescent girls left school in just two academic years. This moment is not just critical, but it is urgent and precarious.

This year, Mariposa’s 6th grade graduating class spent 1,400+ hours at the largest safe space for girls in the Caribbean and across Latin America–a space that is dedicated entirely to their education, empowerment, and safety. They read 9+ books, learned algebra and geometry, and traveled all over the north coast with their classmates. Over the course of just one year, these girls grew into ambitious and courageous adolescents equipped with the practical and academic skills they need to thrive.

The growth of each Mariposa girl in one year goes far beyond statistics. We saw girls discover they are athletes, artists, mathematicians, writers, scientists, and so much more.

On behalf of everyone at Mariposa, congratulations to all of the graduates and courageous students who continue to dream bigger and bolder! ¡Vuelan alta!