MANA de North County San Diego-Hermanitas Program

At MANA de North County, we are committed to empowering Latinas through leadership development, health, wellness, cultural awareness, community service, and advocacy. For 15 years, we have been a source of support for Latina students in the San Diego North County region, offering mentorship, advocacy, scholarships, and community engagement. One of the many initiatives that help us fulfill this mission is the Hermanitas® Mentoring Program. 

MANA is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the education and personal development of Latina teens in grades 7-12. Our Hermanitas® Mentoring Program is designed to empower young Latinas by offering them a fresh perspective on life, teaching them how to plan for success, and guiding them toward achieving their goals. We offer weekly after-school seminars, career and college planning, field trips, community service opportunities, and leadership development. Our program reaches a cohort of Latina girls each week in secondary schools across Carlsbad Unified School District, Escondido Unified School District, and Oceanside Unified School District.

This year, our Hermanitas program is growing! We are currently working with 70 middle school students and 57 high school students. The focus of our curriculum, “Success Through Integrity”, is built around three key principles: GANAS (grit and determination), Integrity, and Perseverance. 

Last school year, we celebrated our highest number of high school graduates- 33 girls, all of whom went to college! Notably, we saw our first Hermanita receive a full ride to Harvard University and our first to receive a full ride to Stanford University. Thanks to your generous donations, we awarded $9,500 in scholarships to help make those dreams come true. 

All funds raised through San Diego Gives will directly benefit our Latina students and their families. We are dedicated to creating opportunities for these students to succeed, and we are deeply grateful for the support of our community in making this possible. 

For more information about MANA de North County, please visit: https://manadenorthcountysd.org