Between paradise beaches, joyful spirits, and breathtaking landscapes, Príncipe hides a very harsh reality, masked by the island’s beauty and its “leve leve” spirit. Gender inequality is visible everywhere. Just look at the rivers: while boys play and jump into the water, girls are washing clothes and dishes.
Every day, I watch the girls walking toward SOMA and think that while we were resting, they woke up at dawn to fetch water, wash dishes, and clean floors before coming to class. Some walk with lightness in their steps; others carry the weight of the world on their faces. But the moment they cross SOMA’s door and our eyes meet, a wide, joyful smile appears, a child’s smile, because here, they know they are allowed to simply be children.
Psycho‑Empowerment classes always begin with an opening ritual, where each girl chooses how she wants to be greeted. Most of the time, they choose a big hug, a hug that feels like a safe harbour. Sitting in a circle on the mat, in an informal, safe, and trusting environment, they are heard, welcomed, and never judged. This is a space open to any concern, insecurity, fear, or doubt.
That is what makes these classes so special. In the midst of such a difficult reality, SOMA is their safe space: where they can cry, laugh, and freely express everything they feel and experience.
Each girl has her own story, personality, doubts, concerns, and potential. My role is to connect each girl with her inner strength. A strength they already have but do not yet recognise and help elevate it into something greater than themselves. It is about showing them a world beyond domestic chores and the heavy weight of cultural expectations.
Through treasure hunts, escape rooms, music, dance, and sharing circles, we help them discover their emotions and learn how to manage them. We help them get to know their own bodies, the first step in preventing early pregnancy and gender‑based violence. We help them learn to own themselves, free from stereotypes and limiting beliefs.
Helping them know themselves is giving them power over their own lives and decisions: focused on the present, but with their eyes set firmly on the future.
Little by little, each girl becomes an open book. The moments we share with them have become the most beautiful luggage I carry through life. I carry the memory of all the Riders expressing their fears and insecurities without judgment; of a girl coming to me to say she had started menstruating; of older girls asking to try a tampon, when before they were afraid it might take away their virginity.
I carry the moment when we helped a girl return to a healthy path after an unbalanced diet affected her health, and the moment I realised they were using the emotional regulation techniques we taught them at school and at home.
Being a Psycho‑Empowerment Mentor is about being the change we want to see in them and in society. Knowing that we are a symbol of trust, an example, and a safe place for them is one of the greatest feelings imaginable. Is there anything better than seeing girls’ self‑esteem grow, watching their happiness when they realise they are capable of more than they thought, seeing them overcome insecurities we worked on together, and knowing they truly listen to and value our guidance?
Our mission goes beyond Psycho‑Empowerment classes, swimming lessons, and academic support. Each mentor follows ten girls more closely, while also working with their families through home visits. Together, we address family and individual challenges.
Just as we are a safe haven for the girls, we gradually become a support system for their families. Over time, they begin to see us as a trusted ally, someone who guides them through the challenges of adolescence with clarity, empathy, and knowledge. Working with families is challenging, but deeply rewarding: seeing family dynamics change, watching parents take on household tasks so their daughters can arrive on time at SOMA, and feeling genuinely heard and valued.
Being a mentor is demanding. We work with girls and families facing emotionally difficult realities, shaped by fragile educational, cultural, and healthcare systems. It can be frustrating at times, but it is also where we learn to put things into perspective, to be flexible, creative, and pragmatic with the resources we have.
On Príncipe, every day brings a new challenge and every challenge is somehow overcome. That is the island’s magic. Most of these challenges later become stories we remember with laughter and longing, carried with the same “leve leve” spirit as the island’s people.
Despite all the challenges, I am certain that our presence in these families’ and girls’ lives will leave seeds that will one day bloom. The strength and light each girl has discovered within herself will remain forever.
As they sing every day:“I won’t give up,I won’t look back,I know I will win,I trust myself, I will be able to overcome the fears within me.”
Just as SOMA came into my life, it has come into theirs to show them that they will reach wherever they dream of going. And SOMA is ready to be part of your journey too.
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