Chicas con Agallas (Gill’s Club)
Empowering the Next Generation of Ocean Guardians
Chicas con Agallas (Gill’s Club) is an educational science initiative in the Galápagos Islands that empowers young girls to connect with the ocean, science, and conservation from an early age.
Operating on San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, and Isabela Islands (with expansion to Floreana), the program works with girls aged 8–12, introducing them to marine ecosystems, scientific thinking, and real conservation work through hands-on learning.
The club is led by scientists and local educators and is part of an international model originally supported by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.
In the Galápagos, the initiative is implemented through collaborations with the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, the Galapagos Conservation Trust, and local research organizations.
Mission & Impact
Chicas con Agallas aims to:
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Inspire girls to explore science, conservation, and environmental leadership
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Build confidence through hands-on scientific training and field experience
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Address long-term gender inequality in science and conservation careers
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Strengthen the connection between local communities and Galápagos ecosystems
Through monthly field sessions, research activities, snorkeling, laboratory work, and outdoor exploration, participants learn about:
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Marine and coastal ecosystems
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Sharks, rays, and ocean biodiversity
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Scientific observation and research methods
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Human impacts such as microplastics and climate change
Girls who complete the program can continue their journey through follow-up youth science clubs (“Molitas” and “Molas”), supporting their development up to age 18.
Our Support
In 2025, Galapagos Shark Diving became a financial supporter of Chicas con Agallas. Through conservation-driven dive tourism, we help fund educational activities that invest directly in the future of ocean protection — not only through research, but by empowering the next generation of scientists and conservation leaders in the Galápagos.
Supporting Chicas con Agallas means supporting long-term, community-based conservation that starts with education, inclusion, and opportunity.
