The emotion, leadership and transformative force of Dominican women were evident tonight in the Eduardo Brito Room, where the BHD Bank celebrated the tenth edition of the Women Who Change the World Award, a recognition that honors those who with their work have impacted entire communities and transformed complex realities.
From the moment the ten winners entered, received with loud standing applause, it was felt that the night would be different. The gala began with a musical performance full of sensitivity that set the stage for the testimonies that would come.
We invite you to read: The Women Who Change the World 2025 Award begins in a few moments: a gala dedicated to recognizing female leadership in the DR
In the opening remarks, Josefina Navarro, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communication and Social Responsibility at Banco BHD, revealed that they have received more than a thousand applications, a historic figure that confirms the magnitude of female commitment throughout the country. “From more than 1,100 nominations, the jury selected ten stories that represent the spirit of change,” he said.
First place was awarded to community activist Nellys Margarita Heredia Agramonte, recognized for her leadership in the creation of women’s associations in the Southern region, promoting gender, environment and education initiatives. Their work constitutes a multi-sector impact that has given voice and hope to traditionally invisible rural communities.
In his speech, Luis Molina Achécar, president of the BHD León Financial Center, highlighted that these women ““They have left marks in their communities and in the country.”
He added that true progress is not only economic, but human:
“This award is a celebration that fills us with pride and hope. It is an invitation to reflect on the role we all have in building a country culture that promotes a better society.”
While the president of Banco BHD and the jury, Steven Puig, recalled that the bank has integrated support for women as an essential part of its institutional identity. He cited an independent survey that revealed that BHD is today the reference bank for Dominican women, with the highest Top of Mind index.
A moment that broke the soul: tribute to Norma Almonte
One of the most moving testimonies was the posthumous recognition of Norma Almonte, founder of the National School for the Deaf of Santiago, who died last week. “Until a few days ago I told myself that I would be here,” said Puig, visibly moved.
In honor of her legacy, the BHD announced a donation of RD$1 million to the school she founded. The audience responded with deep and prolonged applause, an ovation that seemed to embrace his memory.
PROFILES OF THE 2025 AWARD WINNER
- Nellys Margarita Heredia Agramonte – First place
Community leader of the Southern region, promoter of women’s associations dedicated to gender, education and environmental projects. His vision has woven support networks for hundreds of families, strengthening rural empowerment as an engine of progress.
- María Estefani Zapata – Peravia
Second to receive a medal, she is a prepared, strategic and deeply knowledgeable young woman of the coffee train and the logistics of promoting agricultural products. His experience has been crucial to strengthening the production chain and commercial visibility of his region.
- Sister Janely Paulino – Sisters of Charity of Cardinal Sancha
He dedicated his life to pastoral and social service. His vocation, born since childhood, today supports programs of spiritual support, community accompaniment and humanitarian aid that reach entire families in vulnerable situations.
- Norca Díaz – Solidarity Women Association (AMSI)
A survivor of grade 3 breast cancer, she transformed her experience into a life mission. She leads AMSI, an organization that offers emotional, educational and social support to women diagnosed with cancer and their families. Their story is a testimony of resilience and sisterhood.
- Cándida Castillo – Married Doña Mechi
Since she was a child she worked on making the traditional “casado”. Today, with his company Casado Doña Mechi, he is a driver of employment and local development, demonstrating how an enterprise born of necessity can become community transformation.
- Dhamelisse Then – Dr. Hugo Mendoza Pediatric Hospital
Director of the country’s main pediatric hospital, she sees her role as a platform to multiply aid. Its leadership prioritizes humane, innovative and timely decisions to guarantee the health of thousands of children each year.
- Francisca Arisleyda Beard de Burgos – Iván García School Theater
With artistic roots inherited from her grandmother, she began her career in 1998 with Teatro Bálsamo. She is the founder of the Iván García School Theater, a pioneer in the use of drama therapy as an educational tool, strengthening self-esteem, inclusion and community resilience.
- Xenia Anacaona Gell de Álvarez – Volunteering Jesus with the Children
With almost three decades of service in the area of children’s health in Santiago, Xenia has accompanied children who fight for their lives “with dignity.” Their mission is to turn pain into hope and build spaces of love for those who need it most.
The night closed with a shared emotion: the certainty that true change does exist, and is driven by women who, from different corners of the country, are rewriting history with courage, love and leadership.
