Action Areas
The work we do in Miches, through I’m a girl, I’m important has always been focused on protecting the childhood of girls and adolescents. We do this in several aspects, first by providing them with the knowledge and tools they need to understand their rights and map out a life project. Second, by strengthening the network of local institutions responsible for protecting children, including those that are mandated to investigate cases of abuse and/or provide health and care services in the community. And third, by educating and involving families, communities and local authorities to reduce community tolerance to abuse and to generate greater conscience about loving education.
By working on all these aspects that impact a girl's life, we hope to create the space they need to become the heroines of their own story, embracing their role in society as women and their decision-making power. Preventing unplanned pregnancies, early unions and school dropouts will help break the cycle of poverty, inequality, abuse and violence that surrounds them. Beyond personal empowerment, it is also about disrupting their social ecosystem, reducing exposure to risk, while increasing improvement opportunities.
SUMMER CAMP
The Soy niña, soy importante summer camp started in 2013 and offers girls a fun and safe space where they learn, explore and can simply be girls.
How does it work? Every July and August the summer camp travels to three different communities, taking place on public school campuses thanks to our partnership with the Miches School District.
Girls participate in recreational activities with transformational messages that invite them to trust, empower and explore their inner self. By the end of camp, girls have mapped out a life plan that encourages them to make age appropriate decisions, like staying in school and postponing pregnancy, marriage or early unions.
THE BASICS
- Three (3) one-week camp sessions are organized each summer.
- More than 80 local and international volunteers, dedicate their time to the program.
- 310 girls from Miches between 9 and 12 years of age participate.
PROGRAM CONTENT
- Culture of peace
- Education in values
- Sexual and reproductive health
- Artistic and creative expression
- Nutrition and sports
- Mapping my dreams
- Interpersonal relationships
- Healthy self-esteem
- Gender-based violence
- Children's rights and how to exercise them
GIRLS CLUB (TEENS 13-15)
In partnership with other institutions, SNSI organizes workshops and personal development opportunities for teen girls in Miches, with objective of delving deeper into reproductive health and family planning, while doubling down on the importance of staying in school and staying focused on goals and objectives for the future.
This area of action also allows us to create a support and mentoring network to accompany girls in the most challenging years of adolescence.
THE BASICS
- Targeted to teenagers.
- We work on life projects through mentoring and support.
- Focus on comprehensive sexual and reproductive education and family planning.
PROGRAM CONTENT
- Sexual and reproductive integral health
- Rights and duties
- Mapping my dreams
- Physical activity and nutrition
- Artistic and creative expression
MY JOURNEY (TEENS 15-18)
MY JOURNEY: professional development program to provide support to young teens between 15 and 18 years of age to learn and improve technical and soft skills to help them visualize themselves in the future.
What does it seek? To foster clarity in their professional path while preparing them to begin their working lives. This program seeks to raise awareness and integrate them into their environment, as well as identify new growth opportunities tailored to their interests. During implementation, trust circles are created to foster bonds and access to support networks during their adulthood transition.
THE BASICS
- Participants are given multiple intelligence, interests, and talent evaluations to participants, focusing on career guidance.
- Practice and personalized feedback are included for resumes, professional interviews, and effective presentations.
- Comprehensive well-being and mental health are addressed transversally with psychological support.
PROGRAM THEMES & CONTENT
- Identity and self-awareness
- Interpersonal relationships and assertive communication
- Mapping my dreams
- Comprehensive sexual health
- Career exploration
- Professional profile and presentation
- Digital tools
- Personal finances and employment opportunities identification
- Wellness and relaxation exercises/techniques
ACTIVISM
Activism takes-on two major lines of action: communications campaigns to reduce social tolerance towards gender violence and child abuse, and the exercise our civic duty to support and strengthen local institutions and promoting the presence of stakeholders that are responsible for protecting children from their aggressors.
What do we do? We design and implement communication campaigns to local and national stakeholders. We also participate in municipal boards whose mandate is to strengthen the social protection network. Also, we canalize opportunities to increase resources need locally to achieve these objectives.
Through our ambassador’s network we work on expanding our message with spokespeople via their media platforms.
THE BASICS
- We spread awareness surrounding women and girls rights in the Dominican Republic.
- We participate in civic organizations responsible for protecting children's rights in the local community.