By Jessica Lawson | Co-Founder
Dear friends,
Because of your generosity we met our goal and the pool at The Mariposa Center for Girls is open! We've just finished our first week of summer camp and the swimming program is a big hit. In Cabarete, a small beach town where water sports rule, swimming is one of the most important skills we can teach our girls. Teaching them to swim is empowering. They can learn to surf, kitesurf, kayak, windsurf and feel more like a part of their unique community. The economy in Cabarete thrives on water sports related tourism. If a girl learns a water sport this will enable her to participate in community events and could possibly lead to gainful employment opportunities.
We've seen the impact this can have on several girls that have learned to swim through our programs over the years. We've had girls who started out being afraid of the water who are now strong swimmers and are now surfing and kite boarding. Just last week, a 15 year old named Carola was able to save her sister's life because of the swimming skills she learned at Mariposa. She saw her nine year old sister sinking to the bottom of the pool and was able to save her. She has become a hero in her family and her community and most definitely a powerful force for change!
Because of you, the Mariposa girls now have their very own pool. A place where they can learn, grow, feel safe and have fun being together. This will be an unforgettable summer for the Mariposas and it's only possible because of you.
With gratitude,
The Mariposas
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