Imperial County Girls Program Presented In South Korea, Named Soroptimist International Foundation Project

EL CENTRO, Calif. - A girls' education program created in Imperial County has been presented on an international stage in South Korea and named among the newest projects of the Soroptimist International Foundation, Soroptimist International of El Centro announced.

STEAM WARS & BEYOND, the club's signature Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls initiative, was showcased July 22-25 during the 49th Soroptimist International of the Americas Biennial Convention at the INSPIRE Entertainment Resort in Incheon, Republic of Korea.

The convention brought together delegates from 21 countries and territories across North America, Central America, South America and the Pacific Rim, along with visitors from Soroptimist's other federations, including Soroptimist International President Renata Trottmann.

Three volunteer leaders represented the El Centro club: Ivonne Sotomayor Santos, former club president and program co-founder; Martha Cardenas-Singh, former club president, Imperial County supervisor for District 2 and program co-founder; and Nina Lopez, former club president and a member of the STEAM WARS & BEYOND Leadership Committee.

From a one-day conference to a year-round program

STEAM WARS & BEYOND was founded by club members Ivonne Sotomayor Santos, Martha Cardenas-Singh, Lupita Islas and Jessie Villanueva through the club's Dream It, Be It program.

According to the club, what began as a one-day career conference has grown into a year-round leadership and workforce development initiative for girls ages 10 to 18, introducing them to careers in science, technology, engineering, the arts, agriculture, business, finance, health care, law, education, entrepreneurship and public service.

The inaugural STEAM WARS conference in 2025 drew 70 girls. By 2026, participation had grown 73 percent to 114 girls representing 29 schools, five counties and four countries - the United States, Mexico, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia. More than 50 organizations and four Soroptimist clubs helped make the event possible, the club said.

A first for a U.S. club

Soroptimist International Foundation has officially listed STEAM WARS & BEYOND among its latest Foundation projects, placing the Imperial County initiative within a global portfolio of grassroots programs supporting women and girls.

To the club's knowledge, STEAM WARS & BEYOND is the first locally developed project from a Soroptimist International of the Americas club in the United States selected for this type of formal partnership with the Foundation, according to Soroptimist International of El Centro.

Foundation projects have included work in Haiti, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Paraguay, Cambodia, Uganda and Georgia, as well as communities across the Caribbean, addressing issues ranging from access to education and gender equality to health, economic empowerment and climate resilience.

More than $100,000 secured

The club said it has secured more than $100,000 in grants, sponsorships and funding commitments to sustain and expand the program over the next three years.

That includes $75,000 through the Imperial County Public Benefit Program Community Benefit Grant, awarded at $25,000 annually over three years, and $30,000 through the Soroptimist International Foundation, awarded at $10,000 annually over three years. Additional sponsorships, grants and community donations are dedicated to expanding workshops, mentorship, leadership development and annual conferences.

Rather than relying solely on local resources, the club said it intentionally looked beyond the Valley to attract investment, partnerships and expertise and bring them back to the girls it serves.

"This is a proud milestone not only for Soroptimist International of El Centro, but for all of Imperial County," said Maria Carrillo-Martinez, president of Soroptimist International of El Centro. "STEAM WARS & BEYOND reflects what is possible when volunteers, educators, businesses, government agencies, and community partners unite around a shared vision."

Cardenas-Singh said the milestone carries added significance for her as both a co-founder and an elected official.

"Watching a program that began in Imperial County be presented on the international stage was a powerful reminder that innovation doesn't have to come from a major metropolitan area to make a global impact," Cardenas-Singh said. "Every investment we make in our girls strengthens our future workforce, our economy, and the long-term prosperity of our region."

'Pay your own way'

The club noted that travel, convention registration, lodging, meals and related expenses for the members who attended the convention in South Korea were paid personally by those members. No grant funds, sponsorships or community donations designated for STEAM WARS & BEYOND were used for the trip, the club said.

The practice reflects a longstanding Soroptimist custom known as "pay your own way," which encourages members to take personal responsibility for their participation and expenses unless they are specifically invited as a guest or speaker.

"People often see the presentation or the recognition, but they don't always see the commitment behind it," Sotomayor Santos said. "We are volunteers, and none of us are paid to do this work."

Lopez said the trip was meaningful because of what the delegation was carrying with them.

"Representing Imperial County in South Korea was an incredible honor, but what made it truly meaningful was knowing we were sharing the story of our girls and our community," Lopez said.

What's next

Planning is underway for the next STEAM WARS & BEYOND Conference on Jan. 30, 2027, along with an expanded series of year-round workshops, the club said.

Soroptimist International of El Centro said relationships built through the program's growing international presence have also opened conversations with Soroptimists in the Philippines, Central America and South America about future collaboration, educational exchanges and partnerships.

The next Soroptimist International of the Americas Biennial Convention is scheduled for July 2028 in Cancun, Mexico.

"Our goal has never been simply to host a conference," Sotomayor Santos said. "Our goal is to help girls dream beyond limits by giving them confidence, mentors, education, and opportunities to transform those dreams into reality."

Soroptimist International of El Centro was established Feb. 17, 1940, and is part of Soroptimist International of the Americas. Additional information about the club and its programs is available at sielcentro.com.