Working with adolescents has been a primary focus for the Women’s Fund since 2020. By financing projects led by adolescent girls, we’ve expanded our network to include many vibrant and active young women. Two of these girls are now integral members of our team. These collaborations have resulted in numerous inspiring projects that serve as models in various fields such as art, women’s empowerment, entertainment, and the creation of safe, free spaces.
Why Adolescent Girls?
We believe that adolescence, often viewed as a “complex period,” is actually a time of significant physiological and emotional change. It’s a transitional stage where we encounter new experiences, become aware of global and local issues, build lasting relationships with peers, and develop new perspectives. At this age, we start to recognize various inequalities and injustices in society. Gender divisions dictated by harmful social norms begin to shape adolescents’ futures and decision-making processes. The adolescent girls we collaborate with strive to overcome barriers and demonstrate their potential for success, irrespective of their gender. Their seemingly small actions and plans contribute to significant changes.
Program Descriptions
In 2024, continuing our five-year tradition, we are funding several remarkable projects planned and executed by adolescent girls. Here are the details of this year’s programs and the exceptional young women behind them:
- Marie and Lilit (Vanadzor): Schoolgirls Mari and Lilit recognize the importance of sexuality and reproductive education. They organize meetings with gynecologists, psychologists, and other specialists for girls their age in Vanadzor, including girls from Artsakh/Nagorno Karabakh.
- Nare’ and Susanna (Gyumri): These adolescents are involved in various fields like art and technology. They created a puzzle game called “Sasna Tsrօuhiner” to highlight strong female characters from Armenian epics who are often overlooked. The game will be showcased at our upcoming Yerevan retreat.
- Katrine (Yerevan): An art enthusiast who has noticed gender injustices from a young age, Katrin is creating posters depicting men in traditionally female roles. She also participates in courses and shares her knowledge with peers. The posters will be displayed around Yerevan, challenging stereotypes about gender roles.
- Anoush, Angela, and others (Amrakits): These girls are organizing photography meetings and courses, culminating in an exhibition within their community. Their project aims to engage and inspire local girls, emphasizing the importance of community activation.
- Arevik and Anna (Kapan): These schoolgirls, passionate about reading, have established a reading group that provides a safe space for discussions and self-education among Kapan girls. Arevik has even published her own book.
- Fenya (Vagharshapat): Fenya organizes meetings between girls and successful women from various fields, promoting the idea that girls should look to women as role models. Her program aims to inspire and activate other girls in her city.
All project proposals were submitted in video format. Using a participatory grantmaking approach, previous participants in the Fund’ Adolescent Girls’ program selected the six projects that best aligned with our goals. Each project receives up to AMD 450,000 in funding. Project teams meet regularly with the Fund and each other, both online and in safe physical spaces. We deeply value the dedication of our adolescent partners in working towards a more equitable future for girls.
