Soy Niña is a Costa Rica–based nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding educational opportunities and promoting the well-being of girls and adolescents living in vulnerable contexts. Their core programming includes after-school initiatives as well as educational trips, camps, and family engagement programs. Over the past seven years, Soy Niña has refined and expanded its model based on community input. Today, the organization serves multiple communities in Costa Rica and has developed a structured curriculum that is regularly improved and adapted.
Adolescent girls in vulnerable communities in Costa Rica often face significant barriers that limit their opportunities for education, personal development, and future economic independence. Many girls experience declining academic engagement, reduced self-confidence, and limited access to opportunities. In addition, families and communities often lack access to resources and information. As a result, girls often face increased pressure to abandon educational goals and do not pursue leadership and professional aspirations.
With support from the Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund, Soy Niña will provide safe spaces, socio-emotional learning, mentorship, and academic support to strengthen girls’ confidence, resilience, and engagement in education through its after-school clubs.
These spaces allow participants to build strong peer relationships and develop a sense of belonging. The program also engages parents and caregivers to understand adolescent development and the importance of investing in girls’ education and leadership.
This project will directly reach more than 200 adolescent girls through the after-school programs and indirectly will reach more than 200 caregivers and community members. By providing safe spaces, mentorship, academic support, and leadership development, Soy Niña seeks to equip girls with the confidence and skills needed to remain in school and build brighter futures for themselves and their communities.
To learn more about Soy Niña, please visit the organization’s social media pages:
See more projects: Latin America & the Caribbean