Health & Wellness

WELLNESS

MINDFULNESS & MEDITATION WITH

THE YOGA EFFECT

Yoga and meditation have a wealth of benefits for both the body and the mind including enhancing concentration and memory, improving emotional regulation and managing anxiety. Living in extreme poverty is stressful and we know that our regular practice helps to alleviate some of that stress, enabling our girls to increase their focus and perform better in school.

Through a generous donation from The Yoga Effect, the Mariposa girls are deepening their yoga practice and learning more about the scientifically proven benefits of meditation and breathwork. We also welcomed our parents to participate alongside their children during our annual health fair.

THE MARIPOSA CENTER FOR GIRLS IS NOW POWERED BY PLANTS

Thursday means Mexican inspired food. Rice, beans, avocado and fresh salsa is on the menu. Packed with fiber, vitamins and minerals, this tasty meal is a weekly favorite.

With support from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies, we have shifted to a whole-food, plant-based food program at The Mariposa Center for Girls.

We know that when girls take ownership of what they eat and their health, it will have a ripple effect throughout the entire community. As large contributors to household responsibilities, most young girls in the Dominican Republic are at least partially responsible for preparing meals for their families. In an effort to focus on creating healthy habits that last a lifetime and pay homage to the incredible place they call home, our food program is now entirely powered by plants!

At Mariposa, we often prepare and serve up to 3,000 meals per week to our students, staff and volunteers. A plant-forward diet is not only beneficial to our girls’ health, it’s a tribute to their culture and an acknowledgement of the extraordinary life-giving resources that their country has to offer. Our cooking classes focus on learning new and exciting ways to prepare familiar, local produce (and some new ingredients!), incorporating global flavors to expand their palettes and promote lifelong healthy eating habits that they can implement for their families at home.