Fundación Tropicalia and IDB Invest implemented Mi Ruta, an initiative that equips young women in Miches, Dominican Republic, with skills and confidence to make informed educational and career choices as they prepare to enter the job market. Developing local talent is critical to supporting the growth of Miches’ sustainable tourism sector and building resilient communities.

The Dominican Republic’s tourism industry continues to thrive, driving economic growth and opening pathways for people – especially women – to participate in the job market. Mi Ruta stands as a prime example of these efforts, providing young women and girls with the essential skills needed to shape their personal and professional futures. 

This initiative represents a strategic evolution of Fundación Tropicalia’s decade-long commitment to Miches through “Soy niña, soy importante.” Miches, an area with untapped potential for sustainable tourism, is also where IDB Invest supports the sector by providing both technical assistance and financing for Tropicalia’s development of a resort and residences. 

Building strong communities and generating a talent pipeline are key business needs. For this reason, IDB Invest partnered with Fundación Tropicalia and launched Mi Ruta in 2024 to address the educational, emotional, and socioeconomic needs of young women and girls ages 15 to 18 with essential skills to navigate their professional futures.

Bridging the Gap: From Potential to Employability

Mi Ruta seeks to increase women’s participation in economic activities and expand their access to the labor market. The rapid tourism development in Miches posed a critical challenge: ensuring that local young women were not just bystanders but active participants in this economic transformation.

Over 10 weeks, Mi Ruta combined virtual and in-person workshops, training on digital literacy, financial planning, resume writing, interview preparation, as well as personalized mentorship, career exploration, and emotional intelligence training. 

A young woman participating in the 10-week Mi Ruta program.

Mi Ruta’s curriculum supports early preparation for entering the job market, provides access to quality jobs, and helps address career misalignment. According to the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA, 2025), students from vulnerable backgrounds show greater career confusion, and this particularly affects girls, who are “less likely than boys to engage in career development activities that connect them with people at work,” (OECD, 2025).  

Five months after Mi Ruta beneficiaries completed the course, Fundación Tropicalia and IDB Invest evaluated the program's impact on the following dimensions:  

Practical Application of Skills: Participants actively apply the skills they have learned in their daily lives, engaging in new training programs, including English courses, digital literacy workshops, and entrepreneurial ventures.  

Confidence and clarity: All participants maintained or improved their self-confidence and clarity regarding their future aspirations.  

Community engagement: Participants reported stronger community ties, enhanced leadership capabilities, and increased involvement in local activities. Some of them became mentors of younger girls in Miches.    

Mi Ruta delivered positive results for its beneficiaries and actively engaged local businesses in Miches in multiple ways, from funding the program to donating clothes for participants’ job interviews.  

When asked by Tropicalia, participants confirmed that the experience helped them grow in confidence and perspective, enabling them to approach decisions with greater maturity and openness to new opportunities. As a result, they feel more secure and have clearer ideas about their future, facing what lies ahead with confidence and purpose.

Closing the Cycle of Support

For 12 years, “Soy niña, soy importante” has championed the rights and self-esteem of young girls, specifically those aged 9 to 15, in Miches through empowering educational programs and its signature summer camp. Mi Ruta, the vital next step in this ecosystem, closes the cycle of support by helping participants transition from childhood empowerment to young-adult employability.

Key Lessons and Recommendations

Continuous mentorship: Regular follow-ups and mentorship significantly reinforce participants' long-term growth and development.  

Hybrid learning models: Combining virtual and in-person formats ensures accessibility and sustained engagement.  

Strategic local partnerships: Collaboration with local businesses and institutions - such as CEPM, Club Med, ADOPEM, and Zemi by Hilton - was crucial, highlighting the power of integrated, community-driven efforts.  

 Building a Model for Replication

This initiative demonstrates how strategic investments can support structured capacity-building programs that drive economic opportunities and strengthen communities in areas with new sustainable tourism developments.

Mi Ruta is a local success and a scalable model for similar interventions across the region, engaging communities in building long-term solutions.

Looking ahead, Fundación Tropicalia and IDB Invest remain committed to replicating and adapting this impactful program, demonstrating that investing in youth delivers significant returns and creates economically resilient communities.