• This year, the initiative brought together 310 girls for three weeks of training, learning, and holistic development, reaching over a thousand participants since its founding in 2013 and cementing its place as a benchmark for female empowerment in Miches.
• After closing its summer camp, Fundación Tropicalia ensures continued support throughout adolescence through "Club de Chicas" ("Girls' Club") and "Mi Ruta" ("My Path"), guiding young women in Miches as they move toward adulthood into leadership roles.

Santo Domingo, August 11, 2026 - What began in 2013 as an initiative to support the girls of Miches in their personal development has today become one of the region's longest-running programs. With the thirteenth edition of "Soy niña, soy importante" (SNSI) — "I am a girl, I matter" — Fundación Tropicalia reaffirms its commitment to continue creating spaces where girls can build confidence, develop life skills, and recognize the value of their voice.

Held over three weeks under the theme "Play is Growth," this edition brought together 310 girls between the ages of 9 and 12 from the communities of Miches, La Gina, and El Cedro. Over the course of three weeks, participants experienced a program designed to protect and uphold the right to play as a fundamental pillar of holistic development. The program included 21 educational workshops and four sports and wellness disciplines.

The girls covered key topics such as menstrual health, comprehensive sexual education, oral hygiene, financial education, science (STEM), environmental protection, identity, and self-care, along with art workshops in painting, jewelry-making, clay modeling, and creative decoration. This was complemented by soccer, swimming, yoga, and relaxation activities, creating an experience that combined learning, recreation, and personal growth.

The camp also welcomed visits from ambassadors and strategic partners, who saw firsthand the reach of the initiative and reaffirmed the value of public-private partnerships in advancing children's development.

"Reaching fourteen uninterrupted camps is a clear demonstration of our commitment to the future of Miches. At Fundación Tropicalia, we believe every girl deserves spaces where she can discover her potential, build her confidence, and develop the tools to forge her own path," said Katherine Durán, Executive Director of Fundación Tropicalia.

This new edition was made possible thanks to the dedication of volunteers, specialists, partner institutions, and organizations that, together with Fundación Tropicalia, continue to strengthen a safe space where girls can learn, express themselves, and build skills that extend beyond the camp and create a positive impact on their families and communities.

Soy niña, soy importante is part of Fundación Tropicalia's community development strategy — an organization that, since 2008, has driven initiatives in education, productivity, environmental sustainability, and sociocultural strengthening to contribute to the sustainable development of Miches.

Continuity: Support That Extends into Adolescence

As part of this vision of continued support, the close of the 2026 edition of SNSI also marks a new stage for participants. Girls have the opportunity to continue their development through "Club de Chicas" and "Mi Ruta," Fundación Tropicalia programs that extend support throughout adolescence and the transition into adulthood.

The second stage of the foundation's work takes place through "Club de Chicas," a space for teens ages 13 to 15, where they work on strengthening self-esteem, leadership, and life skills while developing the tools to make informed decisions about their future. From there, they can apply to "Mi Ruta," which continues that process with young people ages 16 to 18. A total of 37 participants have received mentorship, career guidance, and training in socio-emotional and employability skills to help them build their life plans and enter the workforce with stronger tools.

This continuum of support, which also includes follow-up with students who receive scholarships from Fundación Tropicalia, reflects the organization's commitment to sustained development processes that accompany girls and young women through different stages of growth, beyond the camp experience itself.

About Fundación Tropicalia
Fundación Tropicalia is a nonprofit organization that manages initiatives and strategic partnerships supporting the community of Miches in its development process to strengthen socioeconomic inclusion in this tourist destination. Established by Tropicalia in the Dominican Republic in 2008, Fundación Tropicalia carries out work in education, gender equity, economic participation, cultural identity, and environmental awareness.

Soy niña, soy importante
Soy niña, soy importante is an initiative developed by Fundación Tropicalia in 2013 that supports girls living in vulnerable conditions, with the goal of protecting their childhood, guiding them toward confident decision-making, and educating them and their communities about their rights.

These efforts, implemented in the Dominican Republic with a geographic focus on the municipality of Miches, El Seibo province, include a summer camp, programs for teens, and social activism, including communication campaigns and civic engagement.