Madrid, Spain. – The lawyer specializing in immigration law,
Neyvi Tolentino, stated that Dominican migration in Spain has a marked female face, highlighting the leadership, resilience, and sacrifice of thousands of women who have supported their families and communities. Her statements were made during the launch of the book
Life Stories and Dominican Goodwill in Spain, promoted by the Banreservas Volunteer Program.
Tolentino, one of the 34 Dominican women recognized in the work, maintained that migration cannot be reduced to statistics, as it responds to brave and collective decisions, many of them led by women who crossed borders in the midst of uncertainty, but with dignity and determination.
“This book does not address migration as a cold fact; it speaks of women who understood that staying, in some cases, could be a way of giving up,” she expressed.
The legal professional pointed out that numerous Dominicans emigrated with pain, not to renounce their roots, but to protect and guarantee the future of their families, even though their effort has not always been recognized.
“The Dominican diaspora in Spain has a woman’s face: women who migrated, resisted, integrated, and learned to move forward without disappearing,” she affirmed.
Tolentino valued the recognition as a collective honor, indicating that her inclusion represents many other Dominican women whose stories are not in the book. “Being able to represent my colleagues makes visible the effort and resilience of Dominican women who emigrate to Spanish territory, whether as housewives or professionals, and who leave a mark in the construction of a more just society,” she said.
She also emphasized that the stories collected were not created to be exhibited as examples, but were forged in the daily struggle. “When a person migrates, their experience impacts and represents an entire community,” she pointed out, while expressing her desire that these narratives serve as a legacy and inspiration for new generations.
The book
Dominican Life Stories and Goodwill in Spain brings together testimonies from Dominican women who have left significant marks on Spanish society, making visible the human, social, and professional contributions of the diaspora, and reaffirming the commitment of the Banreservas Volunteer Program to dignifying the migratory experience and recognizing the fundamental role of Dominican women abroad.
