Every day, Valeria puts on her white lab coat and heads into the microbiology lab at a seafood processing facility near her home in Santa Elena, Ecuador. She works to make sure food is safe and meets quality standards. It is important work grounded in science, focus and care. But this career path did not always feel possible.
Growing up in a rural community on Ecuador’s coast, Valeria asked big questions.
Why do plants grow the way they do?
How does the body heal?
What is happening inside the cells we cannot see?
Biology gave her a way to understand the world and imagine her future. Still, staying in school was not guaranteed. Financial challenges and social expectations placed on girls often push education out of reach. At times, Valeria did not know if she would be able to keep going. That changed when she received a scholarship through Plan International. It covered essentials like transport and supplies and eased the pressure so she could stay focused on her studies.
“For me, being part of the University Scholarship Project was a true miracle. Without that support, I would not have been able to finish my studies, or perhaps I would not even have entered university.”
Valeria, 27, Ecuador
Valeria worked hard. Late nights studying. Balancing school with part-time jobs. Navigating demanding courses like organic chemistry. She sometimes felt out of place next to classmates with more resources, but she never let go of her goal.
Along the way, she discovered something that clicked: microbiology. The idea that tiny organisms could shape the safety of our food fascinated her. That interest became her path.
Valeria, 27, examines a sample at a microbiology facility in Santa Elena, Ecuador, where she works to help ensure food safety. She completed her degree with support from a Plan International scholarship, becoming the first college graduate in her family. © Plan International
After years of determination, Valeria became the first college graduate in her family. Now, at 27, she supports not only herself but also her siblings and her mother. She is especially close with her grandmother, who raised her with values of strength and perseverance.
And she is not stopping here. Valeria hopes to continue studying and growing in her field. She wants to build her own home one day, and she is already encouraging younger relatives to pursue education too.
“As I am the first professional in the family, I feel I must encourage my cousins to pursue a career, because education is the best thing you can receive.”
Valeria, 27, Ecuador
Valeria’s story shows what becomes possible when girls have the chance to stay in school and follow their passions. Around the world, many girls still face barriers to finishing school and pursuing careers in science. When girls are encouraged to keep learning and dreaming, they become leaders, innovators and changemakers in their communities.
On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Valeria shows what it looks like when curiosity meets opportunity and why supporting girls’ education matters now and for the future.
