A group of 15 girls dominican will have the opportunity to participate in a simulated mission at the Space Center in Houston, Texas, as part of the program “She is an astronaut”, promoted by the Foundation She Is and supported in the Dominican Republic by the Government Office of Information and Communication Technologies (OGTIC).
This experience seeks to empower girls in conditions of vulnerability through education STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics), breaking gender stereotypes and promoting female leadership.
A transformative mission
The initiative, which already has three years of implementation in the Dominican Republic, is part of a regional effort that has benefited more than 1,000 girls in America Latina.
This year, the 15 young selectedbetween 11 and 16 years old, they prepared for four months in various areas, including leadership, robotics, programming and teen pregnancy prevention. They also developed innovative projects focused on solving problems in their communities.
Leidy Martínez, director of the programexplained the essence of this experience: “‘She is an astronaut‘is an initiative that seeks to train girls in conditions of vulnerability with the aim of breaking gender stereotypes in traditionally masculinized areas. Beyond taking them to the POTour main purpose is that these girls reach university and become professional in fields STEAM. It is an effort to transform realities and open doors for future generations.”
The selection and preparation of the participants
The process of selection to be part of the program is comprehensive, designed to identify girls with a passion for science and who come from vulnerable contexts. It includes several stages, such as socioeconomic evaluation, interviews with psychologists and the creation of projects that demonstrate their commitment to their communities.
“For four months, the girls They are trained in soft and technical skills that allow them to reach the POT with a solid foundation. In addition, we work on fundamental issues for Latin America, such as the prevention of teenage pregnancy, because we believe that it is vital to train these young women to make conscious and informed decisions,” Martínez explained about the approach of the program prior to the trip
Unique experience in POT
The visit to Space Center Houston, which will take place from December 4 to 10, includes activities such as the construction and launching of rockets, simulations of lunar habitats and robotics exercises. The girls will work together engineersFlight directors and astronauts, experiencing the daily life of space exploration.
At the end, they will graduate in the auditorium where the astronauts real receive their certification, symbolizing their achievement and preparation.
“The most special moment is when the girls they return to their communities empowered to inspire others and generate positive impacts,” Martínez added. “This year we were able to increase the number of beneficiaries, bringing hope and education to more girls dominican”.
Inspirational testimonials
For the girlsthis experience It is more than a trip; It is the culmination of months of effort and a springboard towards your dreams.
Ashley Jiménez, a member of the crew members what were selected this year, expressed how experience has shocked.
“This process changed us; it taught us to trust our ideas and always look beyond. As our mentor told us: ‘Look up at the stars, because there are the dreams not yet discovered’. Not today only we represent our country, but also hope and the certainty that together we can change the world,” Ashley declared.
The story of young people like Ashley and other participants illustrates the impact transformer of this program. For example, Zoe Alejandra Díaz, another of the selectedworked on a satellite project to improve traffic in the Dominican Republic using artificial intelligence, showing how these girls They are already providing solutions to their communities.
A vision for the future
With this year’s mission, the Foundation She Is closes 2024 with great achievements and prepare for new challenges in 2025. According to Martínez, the goal is to expand the scope of the program and benefit more girls in the region: “We want more companies to join so that we can impact more girls and that they continue their academic training. Our dream is that these young women are the future leaders in areas STEAM and agents of change in their communities,” he highlighted.
Inspiration and empowerment
The third Dominican mission to POT reaffirms the power transformer of the education and female leadership.
These 15 girls they will not only live one experience unforgettable, but they will return to their communities as role models, demonstrating that dreams have no limits when combined with effort and dedication.
“This trip is one of all girls who look at us and inspire in our stories. To them I say: never stop dreaming, because the impossible is only a little further away,” said Ashley Jiménez.
