Nosotras
Mariposas es una organización sin fines de lucro establecida en 2013 para brindar programas que empoderan a mujeres jóvenes de comunidades pobres en México. Nuestra misión es proporcionar programas educativos para mujeres jóvenes de comunidades marginadas en el centro de México, empoderándolas para romper con el ciclo de pobreza causado por la falta de oportunidades educativas y el acceso limitado a los servicios educativos.
Where we work
We chose Mexico for our programs because of the country’s large population of at-risk girls. High levels of inequality and limited educational opportunities for young women in rural communities mean that many girls never finish middle or high school. Attending college is often an unattainable goal for many of these women. We find that to be unacceptable.
The relatively inexpensive cost of a university education in Mexico means that your contributions go a long way to help many young women reach their dreams.
Why young women?
Women from impoverished communities around the world lack access to education, health services, and economic opportunities. Mariposas focuses on young women from rural Mexican communities because they tend to suffer the effects of poverty more so than their male counterparts.
By offering educational support and empowerment training to young women, Mariposas hopes to assist them in breaking free from the cycle of poverty for themselves and for future generations.
Taking a closer look at Mexico we find that:
90% of children in Mexico attend primary school; 62% attend secondary school; and 45% finish high school
After secondary school, only 25% go on to higher education
3 out of 10 adolescents are pregnant
Our team
Tessa Eckholm
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
In March 2011, Tessa began serving in the Peace Corps in Cholula, Mexico. Her service focused in two main areas: technology transfer and community outreach. Tessa worked extensively in the rural community of Texmalaquilla, organizing science and culture fairs for the local school, teaching English and facilitating a clothing drive. She was the lead organizer of the first Camp Mariposas.
For over 14 years, Tessa has worked in the field of litigation consulting. As a consultant, she managed projects from their inception to their completion in the creative graphics and multimedia consulting environment. She received a B.A. from the University of Albany in Biology with a minor in Political Science and a J.D. from Albany Law School.
Her hobbies include reading, cooking, traveling, and of course, spending time with close friends and family.
Elena Neibaur
VICE PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE ADVENTURES
Elena served in the Peace Corps as part of her graduate school program from August 2012 to October 2014 as a natural resource volunteer in Puebla, Mexico. Elena’s primary project focused on implementing rainwater harvesting systems and filter distribution to increase water security in a small rural community, San Jose Xacxamayo. Additionally, she co-organized Camp Mariposas in 2014.
She served as an advisor and mentor to Club Mariposas in San Jose Xacxamayo. She helped to establish their mission and how to achieve their goals which focuses on environmental initiates such as monthly cleanups and increasing environmental awareness in their community. Elena fostered empowerment of club participants through enhancing their leadership skills and knowledge of environmental issues by having the girls participate as facilitators in local environmental fairs.
Elena received a B.A. in Environmental Science and Policy at California State University Long Beach in 2009. She began her graduate studies in 2011 where she also taught undergraduate students for a year in courses pertaining to environmental sustainability and climate change, graduating in June 2015 with her M.S. in Environmental Studies from Florida International University in Miami, Florida.
Shayna Sellars
DIRECTOR, CAMP MARIPOSAS
Shayna has volunteered with Mariposas since 2013 and in 2018 she became the Director for our annual empowerment and leadership camp, Camp Mariposas.
She served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mexico for 5 years working in a local park assisting with environmental and sustainable programs. Shayna volunteers for Mariposas because “I have seen the difference a week at the Camp can make in a young woman's life and in their communities and I want to help make sure as many young women as possible get these same opportunities.”
In her spare time Shayna enjoys knitting, upcycled crafts, traveling, cooking, reading, and practicing her Spanish.
Shayna is currently an Environmental Protection Specialist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and has a B.S. in Textile Chemistry and a M.S. in Education.
Laura Ramírez
DIRECTOR, SCHOLARSHIPS
After several years of participating in Mariposas activities, Lau joined the Board in 2018.
Lau decided to join the board because she felt Mariposas as doing incredible work: “I think the Mariposas organization is doing an important work helping young women, from marginalized communities, to have different goals and to help their community. That is why I am very interested in being able to support Mariposas. I want to be a part of helping more girls change their future.”
Jessica Helgesen
DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS
Jessica began volunteering with Mariposas in 2014, while serving in the Peace Corps in Mexico. Through her Peace Corps service, she volunteered with the Mariposas Club in San Jose Xacxamayo as well as the Camp, where she met strong, motivated young women. She volunteers with Mariposas because it advances the goals of these women by encouraging them to improve their health and environment, take advantage of educational opportunities; as well as participate in an empowerment network online and their communities.
It brings her joy to see them follow their dreams and achieve their goals. In her spare time, Jess enjoys traveling, hiking (sometimes attempting 14ers), camping, reading, running, being politically active, snuggling with her cat, Pengüina, attending concerts, and learning new languages! Oh and maybe jumping in puddles/fall leaves whenever she has the chance.
Jess is an Environmental Protection Specialist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. She has a B.A. in Environmental Geography and Urban Studies with a minor in Spanish. She did her senior thesis on Bioregionalism at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.
Citlally Andrade
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE ADVENTURES
Citlally received a Mariposas scholarship to study oral medicine/dentistry. She has been an active participant in Mariposas since first attending the Camp in 2014. After participating and serving as a mentor in the ESA program she expressed interest in becoming more involved in the program and now serves as the assistant director.
Citlally believes in Mariposas and feels that it has supported her emotionally and provided a guide for professional growth. The Mariposas’ volunteers were role models for her and she feels it is important for her to step into that role and help other young women reach their dreams.
In her free time she enjoys reading, playing intramural sports, and working with children. Citlally has the Mariposas spirit as she loves exploring and discovering new places, subjects, and is not afraid to face her fears.