Fundación
Tropicalia
IN 2024, FUNDACIÓN TROPICALIA IMPACTED 2,252 INDIVIDUALS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MICHES, OF WHICH 51.7% WERE WOMEN AND GIRLS, THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FIVE PROGRAMS.
Founded in 2008 by Tropicalia, Fundación Tropicalia is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation and implementation of community development programs, focusing on economic diversification, environmental protection, cultural identity, and education. The Foundation aims to build a sustainable tourist destination in Miches by strengthening local capacities and creating an inclusive local economy, while preserving the region’s natural and cultural heritage.
With over 15 years of experience, Fundación Tropicalia has built multiple partnerships and a deeply rooted relationship with the community. These connections have enabled the Fundación Tropicalia to develop and implement programs for the local community in key areas such as education, productivity, and sociocultural support, managing innovative projects in agriculture, gender equality, education, entrepreneurship, and microfinance. The Foundation also has a strong commitment to supporting the care and conservation of the environment in the Miches community, incorporating environmental education as a transversal activity across different action areas.
EDUCATION
Fundación Tropicalia promotes quality educational programs and fosters continuous learning and training to strengthen individuals’ skills and knowledge.
- Educational Management: 55 students and eight teachers benefited from the project “Quality Education at Los Cuatro Caminos Primary School” to support school infrastructure projects in partnership with Fundación Fuerte and the German Embassy.
- Scholarship and Cultural Exchange Program: Awarded 41 agricultural scholarships since 2011, with over 70% of graduates entering the workforce. Fundación Tropicalia coordinates this program in partnership with the Universidad ISA, an educational center specialized in agricultural sciences, located in Santiago de los Caballeros.
- Professional Cultural Exchange: 5 active students and 1 graduate from the Scholarship Program participated in the 12th Professional Cultural Exchange, with a visit to the Consorcio Azucarero de Empresas Industriales (CAEI) Sugar Mill in San Pedro de Macorís.
- Innovative Education Centers (CEI): This program benefitted 1,312 students and 77 teachers across 4 Miches schools. Partnering with EDUCA, we implemented the CEI program, with the objective of improving reading and math knowledge for grade school students.
ENVIRONMENT AND PRODUCTIVITY
The foundation fosters sustainable and environmentally responsible practices, supports the development of entrepreneurs and micro-businesses, and actively generates new sources of income and job opportunities for the community.
- Miches Emprende: As of December 31, 2024, the capitalized fund amount totals RD $897,868.68, with a total available for loans of RD $2,650,618.68. This revolving fund, managed by Banco Adopem, has granted 39 loans totaling RD $6,090,000 since its establishment in 2016. It has generated 117 direct jobs and benefited 585 people, contributing to the strengthening of micro and small enterprises in Miches.
- Promiches and Protortuga support: Supported institutional management activities and sea turtle conservation. We contributed financial and human resources to strengthen the leadership of Promiches and Protortuga, which protects sea turtles and their nesting areas in the coastal areas in Miches.
- Resilient Girls Workshop: Managing Environmental Risks: The workshop equipped 45 SNSI camp graduates with essential knowledge and skills to face environmental challenges and promote the empowerment of girls as agents of change in environmental risk management.
SOCIOCULTURAL AND GENDER SUPPORT
The foundation seeks to preserve and value the cultural heritage of Miches, fostering pride in its customs and traditions. It also promotes equal opportunities and the active participation of women in all areas of life to create a just and more inclusive environment.
- Cultural Identity: We supported local cultural events to preserve and highlight the region’s cultural heritage, working in collaboration with the local government and community leaders. Historically, Fundacion Tropicalia supports these events every year: Miches Carnival, Patron Saint Festivals, and Atabales (traditional drums) of Francia Amparo and Eloy Bastardo, the Coconut Fair, and Children’s Day.
- Soy niña, soy importante (SNSI): Our gender equality initiative, SNSI is a multifaceted program that supports girls aged 9 to 15, working to protect their childhood, guide them in making assertive decisions, and educate them and their community about their rights. In 2024, the program impacted over 300 girls and involved 54 volunteers in the summer camp. Additionally, 62 participants were active in the SNSI Girls’ Club, and 15 young women joined the Mi Ruta pilot program.