OUR TEAM
ABOUT THE GUIDE 2025
CABARETE: Responsible Tourism & Investment Guide is an annual magazine produced by The Mariposa DR Foundation as a yearly fundraiser. 100% of proceeds from advertising sales go directly to support programs that educate and empower girls at The Mariposa Center for Girls right here in Cabarete.
This unique publication is filled with interesting stories, travel tips, opinions, reviews, fun insider information and high quality photography. The magazine is geared towards tourists, families, people who may be looking to purchase homes, real estate investors, and those just looking for something fun to do; people who are looking for information, adventure, safety and fun!
Our advertisers are hard-working, small business owners who depend on short tourist seasons for their income. They reach deep into their pockets and join us in creating this publication that showcases the very best of what Cabarete has to offer.
The Mariposa DR Foundation is a US 501(c)3 and Dominican not-for-profit organization. We create sustainable solutions to end generational poverty by educating girls to become empowered young women and inspiring the international community to join the global movement.
Advertising inquiries: promo@mariposadrfoundation.org
Patricia Thorndike Suriel
Editor-in-Chief & Director of Advertising Sales
Jessica Lawson Writer & Editor
Tatianna Suriel Writer & Editor
Antarah Chopra Writer & Editor CONTRIBUTORS
General inquiries: info@mariposadrfoundation.org
Photographers
Fran Afonso
Jianca Lazarus
Amy S. Martin
Sebastian Massimino
Mark Tushmann
Credits
Graphic Designer
Marina Cisterna
Cover shot by: Martin Penner
As the longest running publication source in Cabarete, we are honored that many businesses, media platforms, and individuals use the information published in this guide. We ask that if you choose to redistribute or reuse any verbiage, images, etc., from this guide or any previous editions, please make sure to cite your sources! You can cite this publication as is written below or modify the date to reflect the correct edition to which you are referring: The Mariposa DR Foundation (2025), Cabarete: Responsible Tourism & Investment Guide.
I originally came to Cabarete to improve my windsurfing skills, practice Spanish, mountain bike, meet new people, and learn about different cultures. I rode my mountain bike all over the island, developed new trails and befriended people from all over the world. I met my husband and we raised our children here. This town did not disappoint.
I am now part of a community of Dominican and international residents who have lived here for more than 30 years. Cabarete has long been known as the wind and waves capital of the Caribbean. Constant winds of change have driven development and since the spring of 2020, we have seen growth like never before. People have flocked from all over the island and the world to make Cabarete their home. In the coming years, over 20 housing developments will be completed, making room for thousands more guests and long-term residents. In this 14th issue of CABARETE: Responsible Tourism & Investment Guide, we decided to ask long-term visitors and residents about their inspiration to move here and some of their recommendations of where to eat, play and rest, and how best to interact with the local communities.
The choices we all make as visitors, here in Cabarete have a profound impact on the people who call Cabarete home and our environment, especially the ocean. How we drive, where we spend our money, what we buy and what we don’t buy, and especially how we treat our women and children. Very few places in the world exist where local people and visitors get to know each other, mingle, and find true love. Friendships that are built here, last a lifetime. Please help us keep the heartbeat of our little slice of paradise pounding strong.
Welcome to our magical town. May you drive respectfully, tip generously, eat out often, shop locally, laugh a lot, and make new friends.
Cabarete, there is no place like it.
Sincerely,
Patricia Thorndike Suriel Founder & Executive Director The Mariposa DR Foundation
Everything Cabarete
Watersports is what Cabarete is known for, but this bustling town has so much more to offer! From hiking the caves of Callejón de la Loma to an incredible international food scene and unique “fabulous finds” crafted by talented artists and small businesses, Cabarete really does have it all.
We asked a few long-time residents and visitors of Cabarete about their favorite restaurants, activities, and what they love most about spending time here. Unsurprisingly, everyone talked about what a wonderful and diverse community it is. Cabarete has great energy and something for everyone. From raising a family to retirement, there’s no place like it.
Embrace the culture. Check your home country’s sensibilities at the door and just go with the flow. It’s got its own style and that is what makes it a great place.
Kevin Clunis, long-time resident
Where are you from and when did you come
Cabarete?to
One thing we love about this town, everyone has a unique story when it comes to how they ended up in Cabarete.
Michelle Bourdeau
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
I came here on a vacation in 1999 and decided to come back after finishing school. Planned for 6 months and ended up staying for 10. I got a job as a massage therapist, learned to windsurf and decided to stay! I own Andari Spa and work as a real estate agent.
“
Vicki Gallegos
Orinda, California, United States
We found Cabarete on the back of a windsurf magazine about 18 years ago, booked a trip and wired money to L’Agence to rent a condo. Been coming back every year since!
Lole Sumar
Santiago, Chile
I moved to Cabarete in 1996 after falling in love with this town. I knew Cabarete was the place of my dreams where I could live on the beach and be close to my family.
Wilson Zapete
Islabon, Dominican Republic
I started Jungle River Tours in 1990 and Wilson’s Restaurant in La Boca in 2000.
““
Darrin Brown
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I started visiting Cabarete in 1999, made it my parttime residence in 2004, and have pretty much lived here full-time since 2006.
Nara and Andrea Succhiarelli
Amelia, Italy
We came here on a vacation and fell in love with Bliss restaurant and bought it the same week! That was 13 years ago.
Kevin Clunis
New York & Texas, United States
“ “12 years ago I came to the Dominican Republic to celebrate a friend’s birthday and had lunch on the beach at Mojito Bar in Cabarete. I immediately fell in love with the town and now we have a permanent home here and split our time between Cabarete and the US.
Eneyda Reyes Plaut
Sosua, Dominican Republic
I met my husband while working at a medical clinic in Cabarete. We got married and I moved to Blue Moon Retreat in Los Brazos, just outside of Cabarete and have been there for 25 years.
MJ Nadal
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
My family is into watersports and my parents wanted to give us a better life. We moved to Cabarete when I was 9 years old. I went to college abroad and then came back home. Now I am raising my family here and own Vibez Cabarete Fitness and Martial Arts.
Joey Ciolko
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
I moved to Cabarete with my family when I was 10 years old and have lived here for 15 years. My family owns Gorditos restaurants and runs The Beach Club Restaurant at Sea Horse Ranch. I have a media business.
Antarah Chopra
“
Aryen González
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
I was born in Santo Domingo but my parents moved to Cabarete looking to work and ended up getting jobs at hotel Magnifico. Now I own two businesses, a gym and a kite school.
Burlingame, California, United States
I first came to Cabarete on a high school trip in 2018 to visit the Mariposa DR Foundation. I fell in love with Cabarete and returned that same summer as a Mariposa Volunteer. After graduating from college in 2023, I knew I wanted to work for Mariposa so I took a job as the Executive Assistant at Mariposa and have absolutely loved every second of living in Cabarete.
Sarah Ludwig-Ross
Dowagiac, Michigan, United States
Originally from Dowagiac, Michigan, I arrived in the Dominican Republic as a college student in 1996. I fell in love with the country and the culture moved to Cabarete in 2003 and have been working in education ever since. In 2009, I founded 3 Mariposa Montessori.
Jessica Lawson
Chicago, Illinois, United States
I came to Cabarete on a spring break from Dartmouth College in 2003 and again in 2004. After I graduated, I came back as a volunteer for six months and then in 2008 I made the move and co-founded The Mariposa DR Foundation. Now I work remotely for the organization and travel back and forth. For 22 years Cabarete has been my second home.
Favorite Restaurants
Cabarete has quite the food scene! From fine dining to fast and fresh and everything in between. Check out some frequent favorites.
My favorite restaurant is Bliss - the spicy salmon is wonderful. My everyday place is Cabarete Coffee Company - It’s right next door to where I live and the staff is amazing. I walk in and they know what I want. -Kevin Clunis
Gorditos for every day. Drifter for a night out. Crazy Ranch for wings and Casa Mami for authentic Dominican food. -Darrin Brown
My favorite restaurant is Bliss - they have great seafood. At my own restaurant at Blue Moonthe Tandoori Chicken Caribbean Style. -Eneyda Reyes Plaut
Tuva - it’s beautiful, the service is exceptional. -Aryen González
The German restaurant, Bayerischer Hof, is one of our favorites! We have also been enjoying the restaurant at Velero with the most beautiful sunset view. And we love Viento, live music - incredible fresh fish. Mojito Bar is great for happy hour and Pomodoro!
-Vicki Gallegos
We eat at Gorditos and Cabarete Coffee Company all the time. We also love Yamazato for sushi, Ali’s Surf Camp in Pro Cab and Ceiba Cafe at Perla Marina. The fresh tuna salad at Mesa Taina is also a favorite. -Sarah Ludwig-Ross
Le Bistro in Paseo Don Chiche is my favorite in Cabarete. My favorite thing on the menu at my family’s restaurants - the fish tacos at Gorditos and the ribeye steak at The Beach Club. -Joey Ciolko
My family does not survive without Gorditos, I always get the fish bowl. I love Bliss or La Casita for a night out. -Michelle Bourdeau
Seafood is our specialty at my family restaurant, Wilson’s at La Boca. We love Mojito Bar in Cabarete. -Wilson Zapete
We love taking our visiting guests to La Casita de Papi because sand on your feet and good seafood are a must when visiting Cabarete. As far as my favorite dish at my own restaurant, Bliss, that’s like asking who your favorite child is. -Nara Succhiarelli
My favorite dish at Karaya Restaurant at Natura Cabana is the Natura Bowl with quinoa and poached egg and for dessert, the coconut flan. -Lole Sumar
Fresh Fresh and Cabarete Coffee are two of my favorites. At my own restaurant, Rumour Bonsai at Encuentro Beach, the smash burger. -MJ Nadal
Favorite Activities and Day Trips
Watersports may be the main draw in Cabarete, but the town and surrounding areas offer so much more. Here are some favorite local excursions and day trips.
Tommy’s horseback riding. -Vicki Gallegos
I love to go crabbing at La Boca. It’s a family affair, fun for everyone, and an opportunity to spend time with local people! -Sarah Ludwig-Ross
Laguna Dudu or baseball game in Santiago. -Darrin Brown
Cabrera for a day trip to Playa Grande. Definitely recommend doing the river tour in Jamao.
-Joey Ciolko
Playa Rogelio just before Rio San Juan and Laguna Dudu. -Aryen González
We have explored a lot of the country. Some close by favorites are Jarabacoa, Presa de Tavera, Punta Rucia and the beautiful area of Playa Cambiaso. -Nara Succhiarelli
If I can’t be out on the water, you will find me in the gym. At the traffic light on the main road by the entrance to Callejón de La Loma. -Aryen González
The Caves in Cabarete at the back of Callejon de La Loma are very cool.
-Joey Ciolko
27 Waterfalls, Damajagua
-Vicki Gallegos
Visit Puerto Plata and explore the city and shop in town. -Wilson Zapete
River kayaking in Jamao. -Eneyda Reyes Plaut
Fabulous Finds
A few things you may not just happen upon being new in town. Here are some favorites or what we like to call, “fabulous finds.”
We just discovered Marion Cafe that we love. We also discovered an herbalist at a super small shop right before Janet’s supermarket that has a ton of natural products. We also love Emiliano’s soap shop, it’s amazing! It is located next to the gym at the Callejon traffic light. For me the fabulous finds in Cabarete are discovering how many artists we have. So many things in Cabarete are handmade: soap, bikinis, clothes, jewelry and bread!
-Nara Succhiarelli
Every weekend we go to Buena Onda cafe at Encuentro. It’s beautiful. Great coffee, good juice and great music.
-Eneyda Reyes Plaut
My favorite finds are from the people that sell jewelry on the beach. Every once in a while, you’ll find something really cool if you stop and take a look. Beach vendors have good stuff!
-Kevin Clunis
I absolutely LOVE the brownies at Cabarete Coffee Company. I always recommend them to friends and new people I meet. Someone I know brought 10 brownies back home to the United States with her!
-Antarah Chopra
Cosas de arte Taina, mamajuana, hats, all kinds of things - every shop has their own vibe. Definitely Larimar.
-Wilson Zapete
If you need some good souvenirs or something quirky, check La Tienda China - they have so many knick knacks in there.
-Joey Ciolko
Surf house in Ocean Dreamit’s brand new - they have some amazing bathing suits from a Brazilian designer -unique one pieces for watersports.
-Vicki Gallegos
The Cabarete Bakery right next to Viva Tangerine and the Acai Bowl at Gypsy Bowls.
-Michelle Bourdeau
Throughout a calendar year, the Dominican Republic recognizes 11 national and religious holidays and observance days. Holidays are a joyous time that are celebrated around the country with family, friends and plenty of sancocho, a traditional Dominican stew.
Learning about these special holidays offers a fun and informative way to become familiar with the Dominican Republic and its rich culture. Keep a copy of this list somewhere handy when traveling the country–it could save you from hitting stand-still traffic or from rescheduling plans when businesses are closed!
January 1, 2025: Año Nuevo, New Year’s Day
January 6, 2025: Día de Los Reyes, Epiphany / 3 King’s Day
3 King’s Day or Día de los Reyes is the favorite holiday for most children living in the Dominican Republic. Instead of receiving gifts on Christmas Day, 3 King’s Day is the day of gift giving to celebrate the Biblical tale of the three wise mens’ visit to Jesus. Traditionally, children write letters to the Kings and leave gifts as offerings out the night before.
Even though 3 King’s Day is recognized as a national holiday, it has incredibly important religious and cultural significance to Dominican people. Families typically gather at church with their children dressed in their best clothes. Later, extended families cook a sancocho, a stew of various meats and starchy vegetables, or a lechón asado, roasted pork cooked over an outdoor fire.
January 7, 2025: Día de La Vieja Belén, Day of the Old Woman of Bethlehem
Day of the Old Woman of Bethlehem or Día de La Vieja Belén is not a holiday, but instead is a celebration based in folklore and occurs the week following 3 King’s Day. The holiday is more commonly known in families who live in poverty and often cannot afford expensive gifts. After King’s Day, prices of simple gifts decrease and can be purchased by poor families to be given to their children the next week.
La Vieja Belén is a kind and generous old woman who lives distinctly in Dominican folklore history, however, her story is fading in present day culture. Julia Alvarez’s The best gift of all: The legend of La Vieja Belén is a new attempt to revive the story and continue the celebration.
January 21, 2025: Nuestra
Señora de la Altagracia, Our Lady of High Grace
Our Lady of Altagracia refers to a representation of the Virgin Mary, the most well respected female figure in Dominican religious and cultural beliefs. According to legend, in the early 16th century, Altagracia appeared asking a young girl to bring her painting to Higüey to spread her message. Today, this painting, the image of Our Lady of Altagracia, can be found at La Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia in Higüey and marks one of the most visited holy sites in the country. Altagracia is recognized as the patroness of the island of Hispaniola, which includes both the countries of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Given the religious importance of Our Lady of Altagracia, the national holiday is celebrated with pride during family gatherings. Usually, families prepare sancocho or dulce de leche, a caramelized milk dessert, for gatherings after church.
January 26, 2025: Día de Duarte, Duarte’s Day
Duarte Day takes place on January 26 to commemorate the birthday of the writer, political activist, and nationalist politician Juan Pablo Duarte. Duarte is a beloved figure in Dominican history and represents the liberty and freedom of the homeland.
Duarte is featured on the Dominican 100 Peso bill with other national heroes, former President Francisco del Rosario Sánchez and former Vice President Matías Ramón Mella. His image can also be found on murals in front of public schools and statues in other public spaces throughout the country.
Each year, masses of people gather at the Santa Barbara Church in Santo Domingo to honor the place of Duarte’s baptism on his birthday. The Dominican Republic’s flag is flown with pride all day across the country.
February 27, 2025: Día de la Independencia, Independence Day
Similar to the 4th of July in the United States, Independence Day in the Dominican Republic is the most patriotic national holiday in the country. The holiday celebrates the beginning of the Dominican War of Independence with Haiti in 1844. From 1822-1844, the Dominican Republic was governed under Haitian rule. Juan Pablo Duarte alongside former President Francisco del Rosario Sánchez and former Vice President Matías Ramón Mella led the Dominican Republic’s independence movement to free the country.
In the present day, Dominican children march in the streets with their schools to show their pride for the country. Parades with men on horseback and women in traditional dresses dancing through the streets take place in many major cities.
Semana Santa, Holy Week
Easter and Holy Week, known as “Semana Santa” is considered one of the most important holiday times in Latin America. All week, Dominicans observe strong religious devotion and celebrate enthusiastically. Palm Sunday and Ash Wednesday are widely recognized, but are not included as public or national holidays. Children have the entire week off from school and many families flock to the beaches with food, music and lots of Presidente beer and Brugal rum. If you enjoy big crowds, Semana Santa is a great time to experience Dominican Culture.
April 18, 2025: Viernes Santo, Good Friday
Good Friday commemorates the death of Jesus Christ and is a sacred day of reflection and prayer. Various towns and cities hold processions with reenactments of Jesus’ death on the cross. Most Catholic Dominicans eat fish instead of meat for the day.
For those on vacation in Cabarete during Semana Santa, remember that all music and public alcohol consumption are prohibited for the entire day starting at midnight on Thursday until Midnight on Friday. Make sure to also check local guidelines regarding swimming in public places.
April 20, 2025: Pascua, Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and churches all over the country hold Masses of Resurrection. Usually, families spend Easter Sunday enjoying the last days of vacation at the beach and at church with their loved ones. Music returns to bars and the streets as Holy Week comes to a close.
Habichuela con dulce is a special indulgent treat of the holiday, a sweet bean dessert that is enjoyed by practically everyone in the country.
May 1, 2025: Día del Trabajo, Labor
Day
August
16,
2025: Día de la Restauración, Restoration Day
After years of struggle following their independence from Haiti in 1844, the Dominican Republic’s President, Pedro Santana, invited Spain to reclaim its previous colony. The Dominican people were strongly dissatisfied with Santana and in 1863, the country was freed for a second time from Spanish rule with the leadership of Gregorio Luperón. Luperón is now revered as a national hero and freedom fighter. The day is celebrated throughout the Dominican Republic with parades and festivals, and is filled with Dominican pride.
September 24, 2025: Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, Our Lady of Mercy
The Day of Our Lady of Mercy or Nuestra Señora de Las Mercedes is a beloved celebration of the patroness of the nation, a symbol of Dominican resilience, pride, and hope. La Señora de Las Mercedes represents an apparition of the Virgin Mary during the early colonial era. She is reflected in Dominican legend as a symbol of perseverance through struggle and the resilience of the population over time.
Masses of religious pilgrims and tourists flock to Santa Cerro in La Vega, a holy shrine where the presence of La Señora de Las Mercedes is still deeply felt.
November 6, 2025: Día de la Constitución, Constitution Day
Constitution Day commemorates the signing of the Dominican Republic’s first constitution after gaining independence in 1844. This holiday is celebrated through civic engagement by politicians and government bodies. Many people gather in San Cristóbal, the location of the constitution’s signing, for historical reenactments and patriotic reflection.
December 24, 2025: Nochebuena, Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve or Nochebuena is one of the most celebrated and anticipated holidays of the year. In the Dominican Republic, all of the Christmas events actually happen on December 24, as is celebrated in many countries. Many businesses close early as families prepare their food and houses for large extravagant gatherings with loved ones. Music and dancing fills every corner of the country with the traditional Merengue and Bachata dominating stereos and dancefloors. Decorations feature Santa Claus in a bathing suit on white sand beaches and palm trees wrapped with lights.
Food preparation takes hours and a lot of helping hands, but Nochebuena feast is all anyone can talk about for the entire year! The spread often includes lechón asado (roast pork), pasteles en hoja (meat stuffed in plantain or yucca dough wrapped in plantain leaves), moro (rice with Dominican beans), ensalada (salad), tostones (fried plantain), and dulce de coco (coconut candy) for dessert.
December 25, 2025: Navidad, Christmas Day
After the festivities and excitement of Nochebuena, many Dominican families spend time together quietly at home. On Christmas Day, families have leftovers from the previous nights’ feast and drink Ponche, a sweet creamy drink similar to eggnog.
Important Days of Recognition for Girls Everywhere
At The Mariposa DR Foundation, we believe that these international days of recognition are important “bonus” holidays to celebrate girls and to promote equality and human rights all over the world!
October 11, 2025: Día Internacional de La Niña, International Day of the Girl Child
In 2011, the UN officially recognized Day of the Girl as an international day of celebration of girls everywhere. The day honors and amplifies the international girl movement which fights to end child marriage, improve access to education and health care, and bring awareness to the endemic of gender violence around the world. At the Mariposa Center for Girls, International Day of the Girl is the perfect chance to celebrate all 175 Mariposa girls in a safe space that is filled with laughter and learning at all times.
November 25, 2025: Día Internacional
para la Eliminación de la Violencia Contra la Mujer, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against
Women
In 1999, the United Nations declared November 25th–the day of the assassination of 3 Mirabal Sisters–the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women. The Mirabal sisters or Las Mariposas have become not just national heroines, but international symbols who fought social injustice against Dominican Dictator Rafael Trujillo. The sisters ultimately sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the nation and the day honors their contributions to global history and the fight for women’s rights everywhere.
Time for Butterflies
Legacy of the Mariposas & the Women Behind The Mariposa DR Foundation
Many of the freedoms we enjoy today derive from the relentless revolutionaries before us. The Mirabal Sisters are an extraordinary example of historic visionaries, ultimately sacrificing their lives for their country in the fight against Dominican Dictator, Rafael Trujillo. The Mirabal sisters or Las Mariposas, the Butterflies, have become not just national heroines, but international symbols for liberation, peace, and freedom.
The legacy of the Mirabal Sisters lives on today and they continue to be honored and celebrated around the world. In 1999, the United Nations declared November 25th–the day of their assasination–the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women. The sisters are featured on the Dominican 200 Peso Bill and memorials of their revolution can be found all across the country. Today, the new generation of Mirabals, children and grandchildren of the Mirabal Sisters, have undertaken their ancestor’s fight for equality and liberation.
The revolution the Mirabal Sisters ignited also served as inspiration for the founding of The Mariposa DR Foundation which provides solutions to end generational poverty by educating girls to become empowered young women and inspiring the international community to join the global movement. The Mariposa DR Foundation now directly serves more than 175 Dominican and Haitian girls in Cabarete and Los Marranitos.
Julia Alvarez
The Mariposa DR Foundation works to embody the legacy of the Mirabal Sisters and is guided by two passionate and empowered Dominican educators and leaders, Julia Alvarez and Dr. Shirley M. Collado, who serve as honorary chairwomen. Alvarez is a world renowned Dominican-American novelist, essayist and poet, whose work brings stories of rich Dominican culture to life. Alvarez’s book, In the Time of the Butterflies, shed light on the story of the Mirabal sisters whose memory and struggle for freedom lives on as they continue to be symbols of inspiration for women and advocates across the globe.
Dr. Collado is President & Chief Executive Officer of College Track and President Emerita of Ithaca College. Amongst many of her impressive accomplishments, Dr. Collado is the first Dominican-American in the United States to serve as president of a four-year institution and the first Posse scholar to receive a doctoral degree.
This brilliant duo serve as exemplary role models to our Mariposa girls and mentors to our leadership team. Alvarez and Dr. Collado’s combined knowledge, experience, and dedication to the field of education is a source of pride and inspiration for those in the Dominican Republic.
Patria González, granddaughter of Patria Mirabal and Pedro González, during her visit to the Mariposa Center for Girls
Dr. Shirley Collado
THE MOST DIFFICULT ACT OF HEROISM
Julia Alvarez
“Why didn’t they kill you? the children who visit the museum sometimes ask me.
So opens Dedé Mirabal’s brave, moving and invaluable testimony of her own and her sisters’ lives and struggles during the Trujillo dictatorship. Brave, because just reading these pages is a gripping and terrifying reminder of that oppressive and not distant time in our history. Moving, because the losses of those years, which can blur into facts and figures, become real and immediate when we experience them in detail, through the testimony of a person who lived with and lost three sisters and a dear brotherin-law. Invaluable, because those of us who have had the great privilege of hearing Dedé recount these stories first hand have long felt that they must not be lost but should be written down. As those of you who are about to read this book will soon discover, we have here what amounts to a national treasure. Dedé in person is a natural and lively storyteller, and the magic of this testimony is that her voice has been captured in these pages!
I admit that when I first met Dedé Mirabal in the late 1980s, that child’s question was the one in my head. “Why didn’t they kill you?” But I was a thirty-something-year-old woman who knew better than to ask that indiscreet question. Instead, over the course of several years researching and writing In the Time of the Butterflies, a novel based on the lives of the Mirabal sisters, I discovered the answer for myself. It is the same answer Dedé gives to these ingenuous, curious children, “I stayed alive to tell you this story.”
I first began to contemplate writing about the Mirabal sisters when a women’s press in the United States asked me if I would contribute a short paragraph about a Dominican heroine for a series of postcards they were publishing about extraordinary women from around the world. The three Mirabal sisters instantly came to mind. What I did not know on setting out to research their lives was that a fourth sister had survived. Because ours is a country where everyone knows everyone else, and there is always a cousin married to the brother-in-law of someone you want to talk to, I was able to meet and interview and befriend Dedé Mirabal.
What happened to me during our first meeting was that the story came alive in my imagination from hearing Dedé recount the lives and deaths of her sisters. Instead of a postcard, I now envisioned a whole book. At first, I debated whether it should be nonfiction, but as I listened to this expert storyteller I knew I wanted to tell a story, not of facts focused on the dictatorship and the sisters’ tragic ending, but a story of complex, vibrant personalities who kept faith with what was grand in the human spirit in spite of persecution and terror. Back in the late 80s and early 90s there was also not much written about them, and so I took refuge in historical fiction. As a German novelist once wrote, “Novels arise out of the shortcomings of history.”
This memoir, along with the detailed and helpful chronology by Bernardo Vega, now provides a wealth of information and a complete account of the story. This is the book I wish I’d had on hand as I was writing In the Time of the Butterflies. But perhaps had this wonderful testimony existed, I would have felt no need to fictionalize a story already so well told by one of its protagonists. In addition, this book includes not just the lives of the Mirabal sisters, but also the lives and struggles of their husbands, most particularly that of Manolo Tavárez, Minerva’s husband, whose charismatic and noble character represents an important balance to the bestiality of Trujillo. We must never forget that we are capable of being both types of human beings, and while we must denounce our inner Trujillos as well as the outer ones, we must also reach for the stars, the Manolos and the Mirabals, inside each and every one of us. Furthermore, we must demand their standard of integrity, courage, and service from our public servants.
thus underscoring that their heroism is possible for all of us. What she does not mention and what perhaps we have taken for granted as we admire and acknowledge the grand sacrifice of her sisters and other fallen heroes is her own heroism, easy to overlook, the heroism of daily discipline, of dozens of seemingly insignificant choices that make all the difference in the world. This is the hardest heroism, one that survives and forgives but does not forget. “Revolution only secures the territory in which life can change,” Rebecca Solnit observed in writing about the Zapatistas. “Change is a discipline lived every day.”
How far our little butterflies from a tiny half-island nation have flown!
Over the years since the publication of my novel, I have become friends with Dedé Mirabal and her niece-daughters Minou Tavárez Mirabal and Jacquelín Guzmán Mirabal. We have been together at any number of events commemorating the Mirabal sisters. Among these commemorations has been the gratifying proclamation by the United Nations of the day of their murder, November 25, as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Around the world, from Denmark to Zimbabwe, from Ecuador to Jordan, women and men gather in their name and under their symbol, the butterfly, to affirm the ongoing struggle against gender-based violence, a struggle which we, who will always be in debt to the Mirabal sisters and to others who died during that dictatorship, must continue.
At all these commemorations, and here in these pages, Dedé speaks of her sisters as flesh and blood women,
This also we must tell the children when they ask why they did not kill Dedé Mirabal. So that she could stay alive and model that daily discipline, so she could teach us how to be humane human beings again.
The thirty-one years of the Trujillo dictatorship were the darkest moments of our history. After his death, Trujillo lived on in many of his minions, long years of corruption and “democratic dictatorship,” disgraces that continue to plague our history. It is still the time for Butterflies as forces, locally and globally, threaten to pull us back into the morass of Trujillismo without Trujillo. Often, we encounter willful ignorance which dooms us to repeat the past and set the blueprint for the future. But to offset that historical amnesia and present confusion, we have the inspiration and example of the remaining Mirabal sister. Patiently, quietly, persistently, with dignity and grace, Dedé has been showing us how to live, as her sisters showed us how to struggle and how to die. She is the unacknowledged mother of the new nation that we are still constructing, leading us with her stories and her strength, her vivacity, tenacity, and most importantly with her example. I don’t think we fully understand to what extent Dedé Mirabal has been, and continues to be, our guiding spirit. Perhaps these pages will allow us to realize what she means to us as a nation and to feel gratitude at this last butterfly still alive not just in the gardens that surround the Museum of the Mirabal Sisters but alive in her own words in these pages.
•Revised on March 8, 2024, International Women’s Day
•¹ Rebecca Solnit. Hope in the Dark: Untold Histories, Wild Possabilities (New York: Nation Books, 2004). Translators’ note.
•² Dedé Mirabal was alive when this book was originally published in 2009, but she passed away on February 1, 2014 at the age of 88. Translators’ note.
Suggested Beach Reads
Investing in your knowledge for a better you
We hope you enjoy learning about Dominican and Haitian culture and history through some of our favorite island authors.
In the Time of the Butterflies by
Julia Alvarez
of Bones by
Edwidge Danticat
An essential read to fully understand the history of the Dominican Republic and how the country’s national heroines received their honor, Alvarez uncovers the true, the good, and the ugly. Inspired by a true story, In the Time of the Butterflies is an account of the Mirabal sisters’ revolt against the Trujillo dictatorship and the distance they went to protect their country’s democracy, culture, and family legacy.
A complex history of the relationship between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, The Farming of Bones memorializes the victims of the 1937 Parsley Massacre, a horrific account of ethnic cleansing under the Trujillo dictatorship. In this emotional and informative classic, Danticat tells the story of a Haitian-born orphan as she navigates life in a border town in the Dominican Republic. As violence ensues and her relationships are challenged upon fleeing back to Haiti, she reflects on a country she no longer recognizes.
You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo of My Words by Lynn Joseph
If you have ever flown to the Dominican Republic, you are likely familiar with Acevedo’s resonant title. Clap When You Land exhibits emotions of grief, loss, and confusion as two girls separated by sea experience the death of their father in common. Grappling with their own cultural identities, this story sheds light on the importance of family, friendships, and ultimately forgiveness.
A heartfelt coming of age story, The Color of My Words tells the story of 12 year old Ana Rosa growing up in Sosúa (Cabarete’s neighboring town) and the obstacles she faces to express herself in writing and gaining a sense of community. Joseph does a beautiful job depicting the power words hold and the importance of freedom of speech through a vibrant description of Dominican culture – dancing merengue at neighborhood block parties and living a life full of food, laughter, and tradition.
A few more suggested readings by Latin American and Caribbean authors
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez
How the García Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez
In the Name of Salome by Julia Alvarez
Let it Rain Coffee by Angie Cruz
Dominicana by Angie Cruz Krik? Krak! by Edwidge Danticat
Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
Dominican Republic: Beyond the Lighthouse by James Ferguson
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
Why the Cocks Fight: Dominicans, Haitians, and the Struggle for Hispaniola by Michele Wucker
CHILDREN & YOUNG ADULT
Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
Already a Butterfly by Julia Alvarez
Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez
How Tía Lola Came to Visit Stay by Julia Alvarez (series)
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Woman Hollering Creek by Sandra Cisneros
Anacaona by Edwidge Danticat
Eight Days: A Story of Haiti by Edwidge Danticat
Islandborn by Junot Diaz
Coconut Kind of Day: Island Poems by Lynn Joseph
Dancing in the Rain by Lynn Joseph
Flowers in the Sky by Lynn Joseph
An Island Christmas by Lynn Joseph
Umami by Laia Jufresa
When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago
The Turkish Lover by Esmeralda Santiago
The Untapped Potential of
CARBON Beneath the Waves
What
is Blue Carbon?
Blue Carbon is an emerging concept used to describe coastal wetland ecosystems that capture and store carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, a hazardous greenhouse gas emission.
Coastal blue carbon ecosystems include mangroves, seagrasses and tidal (salt) marshes and are considered the most efficient natural carbon sinks on Earth! In addition to helping curb the impacts of climate change, these coastal ecosystems provide benefits to the marine life around them, especially creating nursery grounds for fish, shrimp, and mollusks that feed off of them.
Blue carbon ecosystems also help protect coasts from natural disasters. In particular, mangroves protect coastlines from erosion, flooding, and storm surges. But the benefits don’t end there. Since these marine ecosystems promote healthy biodiversity in our oceans, they provide food security and livelihoods for many coastal communities dependent on seafood as a source of nourishment or income.
Here in the Dominican Republic, we are home to the starting pitcher of blue carbon: mangroves. On average, one square mile (2.59 square kilometers) of mangroves hold as much carbon in their soil and roots as the annual emissions of 90,000 cars. Did you know that the Dominican Republic has 19,184 hectares of mangroves and 62,265 hectares of seagrass alone? We must protect these natural ecoheroes and let them harness their powers for the greater good of our planet.
Why it’s important
CO2 levels are rapidly rising and this greenhouse gas is significantly contributing to global warming and intensifying the effects of climate change. CO2 emissions are caused by burning fossil fuels for energy production, transportation, and manufacturing, however deforestation and agriculture are also major contributors. At the current rate of activity, often referred to as BAU: Business as Usual, it is predicted that by the year 2100 global sea levels will rise between 0.3 meters (1 foot) and 2 meters (6.6 feet) higher than it was in the year 2000².
For small island nations like the Dominican Republic, the combination of sea level rise and the intensifying impacts of climate change could mean increased flooding, more severe hurricane seasons, and the loss of vital coastal habitats, putting communities and ecosystems at serious risk. Addressing CO2 emissions and protecting blue carbon ecosystems is crucial in mitigating these impacts.
How we can help
To further support these efforts, we can take action by promoting sustainable practices within our communities.
•
Reduce your plastic waste by ordering your drinks without straws, refilling your water bottle, shopping with reusable grocery bags and bringing your own containers to pick up takeout or bring home leftovers from a local restaurant.
Advocate for stronger protections, and encouraging ecotourism and development that respects these ecosystems, our beaches, and our oceans.
Engage local communities, schools, and businesses to raise awareness about the importance of mangroves and seagrasses.
Volunteer or donate to local conservation and education efforts.
The Dominican Republic is already leading the way having included blue carbon ecosystems in their most recent climate change commitments.
Committed to protecting and restoring coastal and marine ecosystems, including mangroves, the Dominican government has designated six protected Ramsar Wetland sites since 2002. One of these sites located on the North Coast, Parque Nacional Manglares del Bajo Yuna (Bajo Yuna Mangrove National Park) is a 77,5186 hectare area of wetland that supports species at risk of extinction, including providing a refuge for seven endemic bird species. We salute our government’s efforts!
Sources:
•
Participate in mangrove replanting efforts and support policies that prioritize blue carbon in national climate strategies.
Together, we can protect these vital ecosystems for future generations to come!
1 Conservation International, 2021
2 Global Mangrove Watch, 2020
3 Schill et. al., 2021
4 NOAA, 2022
DININGout
Coffee Shops and Healthy Bites
Cabarete Coffee Company
Coffee, Breakfast, Lunch, Smoothies
Fresh Fresh Cafe
Breakfast, Lunch, Smoothies
Gypsy Bowls
Bowls, Salads, Smoothies
The Honey Company
Honey, Breakfast, Lunch
Vagamundo Coffee & Waffles
Coffee, Waffles, Lunch
Bakeries
100% Pan Bakery
Venezuelan
Belgian Bakery
Belgian Dick’s Bakery
German
Happy Hour & Casual Eats
Aqua at Millennium
Caribbean Spanish Tapas
Coconuts Restaurant
Italian, Bar Bites
El Cocotazo Cafe
Dominican, Breakfast, Lunch, cocktails
Encuentro Food Park
International Food Trucks
Friend’s Restaurant
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Gordito’s Fresh Mex
Fast Food Mexican
Lax
Drinks, Bar Bites, Pizza
Mojito Bar
Mojitos, Dominican, Bar Bites
Voy Voy
Dominican, Bar Bites
Special Night Out
The Beach Club
Seafood Grill & Bar
Bliss
Mediterranean with Italian Accent
Drifter
Mediterranean Caribbean Fusion
La Casita de Papi
Seafood
Le Bistro
French Tuva
Italian
Sunset Grill
International Cuisine, Seafood Grill
Pizza & Pasta Craving
Ceiba Cafe and Pizzeria
Pizzeria
Chabola
Pizzeria
Pizza & Spaghetti
House
Italian
Pizzicleta
Pizzeria
Pomodoro Pizza
Italian
Traditional
Dominican Cuisine
Happy Family
Dominican, Seafood, Pizza
Callejón Comida
Dominican food
Serenade at Villa Taina
International Cuisine, Dominican Buffet Friday’s
Wilson’s La Boca
Restaurant
Dominican family style
International Fusion
Ali’s Surf Camp
Venezuelan, Churrasco
Blue Moon (reservation only) Caribbean Indian Fusion
Nectar
Ceviche, Seafood, Pasta, Sandwiches
Restaurant Bayerischer
Hof
German, Schnitzel, Sausage
Swai
Ceviche, Seafood, Dominican
Viento
Seafood, Steak, Salads
Yamazato
Caribbean Asian Fusion, Sushi Bar
HISTORY . EDUCATION . CABARETE of in
Mornings in Cabarete are bustling with movement as parents drop their children off to school. You may see three or four children piled onto a moto in their uniforms, ready to learn. Compared to twenty years ago, Cabrete has come a long way in providing a better education for its youth. However, even in light of the positive change, real and persistent obstacles still exist that prevent the majority of children in Cabarete from receiving a basic education.
How far have we come? A look back…
40 years ago, Cabarete was a sleepy fishing village of about 500 people. This is hard for visitors to believe today when they visit this bustling, international tourist destination with almost 20,000 year-round residents and growing.
1950s-1970s
Many of Cabarete’s residents were fishermen, farmers, or military men posted by the dictator Trujillo to guard the beach from a potential U.S. invasion. The poorest families settled on the beach, the least arable land. They gathered almonds, sea grapes, and fished in the lagoon while their children played on the beach. There were two small one-room schoolhouses on the east side of town, which still stand today: Puerto Cabarete and Punta Cabarete.
1970
The first school in Cabarete was constructed under the presidency of Joaquin Balaguer. The school was for children ages 8-12 and students graduated at the fifth grade.
Late 1980s
French Canadian windsurfers “discovered” Cabarete as the best windsurfing destination in the Caribbean. The introduction of small-scale international tourism contributed to the rapid growth of the town’s population, and the educational needs of Cabarete quickly grew.
1986-1996
Under President Joaquin Balaguer, former Minister of Education under Trujillo, children could not enroll in public school until they were 7 years old. In reality, many did not begin until the age of 8. As a result, a child born into poverty in 1990 or earlier had little chance of making it past the 5th grade. In fact, only 1 in 5 children in Cabarete made it past 5th grade until 2005.
1996
President Leonel Fernandez and the PLD (Dominican Liberation Party) came into office. Textbooks began to appear in Cabarete public schools, although sometimes not until the end of the school year.
1999
President Fernandez introduced kindergarten to the education system, allowing children as young as five years old to attend public school. However, most public school teachers in Cabarete still only held eighth grade or high school degrees and none of them had been trained in early childhood education. In fact, universities had not yet developed courses in early childhood education.
2000-2004
Under President Hipolito Mejia’s tenure and the PRD (Dominican Revolutionary Party), desks for educators and the first teachers with university-level degrees appeared in Cabarete public schools. For the first time, children of Haitian descent were allowed to attend Dominican schools until eighth grade. Unfortunately, law still prevents Haitian children without formal paperwork from attending school past the eighth grade, but at the time, it was a step forward.
1993-2002
Iguana Mama Mountain Bike and Adventure Tours, the first adventure and eco-tour company on the north coast of the Dominican Republic and one of the first eco-tour companies on the island, constructed and donated the books for the first public school library in Cabarete. Founded and led by Patricia Suriel, Iguana Mama had innovative programs offering 25% discounts for tours in exchange for book and school supply donations for local public schools.
2002-2009
Suriel founded Cabarete’s first not-for-profit where she engaged thousands of international tourists to bring school supplies in their luggage and recruited volunteers to train teachers and work in schools. With the support of a large local and international community, she spearheaded efforts to build 20 classrooms for public and private schools, 3 libraries, a signature 6,000 sq ft community center, and the first computer lab on the North Coast. She also started the first summer camp for poor children, which included swim lessons and field trips. Suriel also brought Montessori education to Cabarete, effectively spreading the Montessori Method to various schools, which to date, have educated more than 3,000 children.
2009-Present Day
Multiple grassroots educational organizations and not-forprofits have been established in Cabarete to improve the quality and access of education in the town, including the Mariposa DR Foundation which houses the largest safe space for girls in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Construction of the first modern public school in Cabarete in the Callejon de La Loma barrio was completed in 2015. However, the school was not immediately opened until 2017. During the waiting period, the Cabarete community united to protest and held three strikes that demanded action.
The first high school in Cabarete opened. Prior to 2019, children who wanted to pursue school beyond the 8th grade had to travel to neighboring towns on their own modes of transportation. The Ministry of Education restructured school systems; where kindergarten through 6th grade is primary school and 7th and 8th grade are classified as secondary school. This change ended 50 years of the infamous 8th grade national tests (pruebas nacionales) which most residents of Cabarete could not pass, resulting in the extremely low enrollment rates in secondary school.
Schools closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic from March 16, 2020 and did not reopen until September 26, 2022 due to a hurricane.
Education in the town of Cabarete has come a long way over the past 55 years since the first school was built. With the recent opening of the new school, students are finally graduating from high school here in their hometown of Cabarete. 2014-2017
Here in Cabarete, schools are transitioning from half-day to full-day schooling. Although there are enormous growing pains, this is a great milestone.
Investments from thoughtful community members have helped to ensure that many students have necessary materials such as pens, paper, and notebooks. Due to more effective government systems, access to school books is more reliable. School cancellations have considerably decreased, meaning that learning is interrupted less frequently. Most teachers now have basic training in early childhood, primary, and secondary education, which was unheard of in previous decades.
Even with these achievements, there is still a great amount of work to be done. Although the all-day school program is an excellent adjustment, rote memorization is still the foundational pedagogy in schools. This means that graduates can leave without having ever learned critical thinking skills, which are essential for problem-solving and success in the real world. In many ways, the system sets children up for failure. Much of the copious amounts of homework assigned requires internet access to complete, which most families do not have access to. Children who are not competent in their own language are required to study in multiple foreign languages beginning in the fifth grade. One must question why the ability to read and write in Spanish is not the number one priority.
15 years ago, it was common to have 14 year old boys sitting in a 3rd grade classroom. This undoubtedly created an unsafe and uncomfortable environment in classrooms for young girls; not to mention the challenges of teaching across very broad maturity and development levels. While this is no longer the case, the reasons behind the change are not so positive. Dominican heads of school are now passing students who are not prepared to move forward onto the next grade in order to report favorable statistics for their schools. Children are allowed to pass grade levels without understanding basic mathematics or language; some students are unable to write their own names.
While vested community members are encouraged by the improved classroom dynamics, we still need the help from local and international supporters to create a lasting impact to ensure the children of Cabarete receive a competent education.
About Mariposa FAQs
MARIPOSA DR FOUNDATION
Mission and Vision
Mission
We create sustainable solutions to end generational poverty by educating girls to become empowered young women and inspiring the international community to join the global movement.
Vision
To create a model that can be adapted around the world for a holistic girls’ education and empowerment program to end generational poverty.
When you first walk through the front gate of the Mariposa Center for Girls in Cabarete, whether you are an international visitor or a little Dominican girl who has never swam in a swimming pool before, you feel as if you are entering a safe haven. Beautiful, empowering, with colorful murals of female activists, heroines, authors, poets, and revolutionaries illuminate pillars around the center. The swimming pool invites you to jump in, especially on hot days. The mango trees over the yoga and meditation platform sway in the gentle warm ocean breeze. Groups of girls laugh, braid each other’s hair, dance, learn and play all day long.
With so much excitement and many visitors over the years, our team has heard a lot of questions about all things Mariposa. So, we wanted to answer some of those questions for you! If any of these questions, answers, or facts resonate with you, we encourage you to schedule a visit to the Mariposa Center for Girls in Cabarete.
What is Mariposa?
The Mariposa Center for Girls in Cabarete is the largest safe space for girls in the Caribbean and Latin America. In 2012, we purchased a dilapidated old hotel at the entrance to La Cienega and transformed the property into a beautiful sanctuary where girls ages 7-18 come to learn, grow, and play.
We offer more than 40 programs annually to girls living in poverty, which include academic support, swimming, visual and performing arts, environmental education, community service and advocacy, access to mental and physical health care, provide daily nutritious meals, and so much more.
We also have a second campus, The Mariposa Mountain School at Finca Alta Gracia. Honorary Chairwoman, Dominican-American author Julia Alvarez and her husband, Bill Eichner, recently donated their family property in the mountains above Jarabacoa to the organization. The Mariposa Mountain School provides educational and empowerment programs to girls in the rural community of Los Marranitos.
What about the boys?
And why is Mariposa only for girls?
The campus also includes a coffee, fruit and vegetable and macadamia farm that spans
Poverty is hard for everyone, but it’s hardest for girls.
When a family lives in generational poverty, parents often have to choose which of their children will get the privilege of attending school. For most, the obvious choice is their sons. Boys are seen as more capable of earning income because it’s just safer for them to exist. They’re not at risk of early marriage or childbirth. All children born into poverty experience obstacles, but boys have an inherent advantage.
In Cabarete, men have more financial opportunity and freedom than women. Seeing Dominican and Haitian women driving motorcycle taxis, instructing kitesurfing lessons, or playing baseball in the barrios is rare, if existent at all.
But, the Mariposa DR Foundation’s innovative programs are changing the trajectory of girls born into poverty. At Mariposa, girls can freely swim in the pool, take risks in the classroom without feeling embarrassed, practice yoga, mountain bike through the town, and can receive professional social and emotional support. Our results have been nothing short of astonishing. Girls are the most underserved, underrepresented, and vulnerable population. Every 3 seconds, a girl somewhere in the world becomes a child bride (VOW for Girls, 2024). Girls are the first to be held back from school in order to care for siblings, help at home, and perform hours of unpaid labor in their homes each day.
Why girls?
Nearly 1 in 3 girls in the Dominican Republic will become pregnant before the age of 18 years old (Girls Not Brides, 2023). 2 in 3 Dominican teenage girls have experienced sexual assault (Dominican Today, 2022) and more than 1 in 5 have encountered forms of sexual violence in the classroom (UNICEF, 2022). The odds of early pregnancy and marriage are high and the lifelong impacts are traumatic.
Girls are uniquely capable of changing everything. According to the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, women invest 90% of their income into their families while their male partner invests only 30-40% (2024). Girls and women are capable of lifting entire families out of poverty. As mothers, educated women will also educate their children. When a girl is educated, she holds the power to change an entire generation and disrupt the cycle of poverty.
How many girls attend Mariposa programs?
We work directly with 175 girls at the Mariposa Center for Girls in Cabarete, the Mariposa Mountain School in Los Marranitos, and in our Mariposa Volando program!
The Mariposa Volando (flying butterflies) program is for Mariposa girls ages 17-23 who have graduated from our programs. They (1) attend an institution of higher education in the Dominican Republic and around the world, (2) attend a trade school or pursue training/certification programs, (3) enter the workforce and need support.
Where do Mariposa girls come from?
The majority of Mariposa girls in Cabarete come from the town’s two largest barrios, La Cienaga and Callejón de la Loma. All siblings are grandfathered into Mariposa programs and given priority. In addition to staff and parental recommendations, many Mariposa girls come from our sister school, 3 Mariposa Montessori. We do not have a standardized template to apply to each Mariposa girl. Instead, we have a passionate team who are dedicated to meeting the individual and intricate needs of each Mariposa girl.
Where do Mariposa girls go to school? Does Mariposa provide scholarships?
Mariposa girls enter programs around the age of 7 years old. Prior to the 6th grade, Mariposa girls attend either a public or private school in Cabarete depending on their family’s financial ability.
Mariposa provides close to 100 scholarships each year for middle and high school girls to attend CORAL, a private school in Callejón de la Loma. Upon graduating from high school, Mariposa offers full and partial scholarships to students pursuing education at an institution of higher education and employs several graduates to help them gain professional experience as they enter the workforce.
How much do Mariposa girls pay to participate in programs?
Mariposa girls do not pay to participate in any programs! The burden of the cost of education means that many girls forfeit their education altogether, and Mariposa is not willing to risk that. This means that Mariposa girls and their families are not required to pay for daily programs at Mariposa, multiple daily meals, uniforms for school and sports, feminine hygiene products, books and academic supplies, transportation, and tuition for education at a private middle and high school.
How much time do girls spend at Mariposa each day?
In addition to school, a Mariposa girl spends more than 1,000 hours at our center annually and receives a plethora of educational and empowerment opportunities.
Many Dominican schools continue to operate with half-day school schedules. This means that children in elementary school receive 3 hours of school per day and high school students receive 5 hours.
So for the other half of the day, when the Mariposa girls are not in school, they are safe at the Mariposa Center for Girls. Throughout the school year, the Mariposa girls participate in a variety of extra activities such as weekend surf workshops, lead community events, and adventure on Mariposa overnight field trips around the country.
Mariposa’s 8-week Summer Camp is the most exciting time of the year and girls participate in programs from 7am until 4pm. The girls participate in multiple activities throughout the Summer Camp, ranging from surfing at Playa Encuentro and boogie boarding at Kite Beach to practicing yoga under mango trees and learning English in music class at the Mariposa Center for Girls.
Do you provide meals at the Mariposa Center?
At Mariposa, we are committed to developing life-long, healthy habits while protecting the environment and respecting the abundant resources the Dominican Republic has to offer. We are proud to be an entirely wholefood, plant-based organization as of the fall of 2021. Shifting to a high fiber diet filled with natural nutrients has helped the entire Mariposa community to feel healthier, both mentally and physically.
We know that when girls take ownership of what they eat and their health, it will have a ripple effect throughout the entire community.
Over the past few years, 100% of the Mariposa girls have reached the age of 18 without a child pregnancy and with a high school degree.
What is each Mariposa girl guaranteed?
What is your success rate? ?
We provide each girl with an education filled with experiences to last a lifetime. We promise them that they will learn skills that will land them jobs and some that will become hobbies. They will play sports, dance, sing and laugh.
They will be safe in our home, because it was built to be theirs. We promise them a safe space, a shoulder to cry on, a warm meal, and a place to meditate… or take a much needed nap.
We promise to help the Mariposas, butterflies, fashion their wings. Many people help fashion their wings. But it is the choice of the Mariposas to soar.
Of those girls, 90% have gone on to enroll in a university, ranging from programs in the Dominican Republic and the United States to Costa Rica, Singapore, Wales, Thailand, Canada, and more. Those who did not wish to continue their education are employed and receive guidance and support from Mariposa as needed.
Volunteer or intern with us!
Participating firsthand in our work at Mariposa helps elevate the quality of our programs and raises awareness of our work around the world.
Apply to become an international volunteer for our summer program and year long stays. Reserve a Community Engaged Learning (CEL) trip! On CEL trips, volunteers have access to a side of the community not seen by traditional visitors and are ensured a unique and lifechanging experience forming new connections and making an impact.
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