Young feminists are a thrilling phenomenon: smart, bold, funny defenders of rights and claimers of space—and changers of the conversation.
Rebecca Solnit
There is an interesting phenomenon in nature: when a tree is in danger, such as when its trunk or roots are damaged, it begins to branch out more, as if sensing that the end is near and it must ensure the continuation of its “generation.” The tree starts directing more nutrients to the newly grown, slender branches to secure its survival and existence.
Just as these thin, newly growing branches of a tree are often taken lightly and overlooked, so are teenagers in human societies. In patriarchal societies like Armenia, teenagers’ feelings, desires, and emotions are frequently devalued. This devaluation extends across various layers of society, from the household level to political decisions. Recognizing this, the Women’s Fund Armenia has made adolescent girls a priority since its inception.
An Overview of WFA’s Projects for Adolescent Girls
Co-founder and President of the Women’s Fund Armenia, Gohar Shahnazaryan, fondly recalls how the idea of providing grants to teenage girls emerged. “The Women’s Resource Center had a separate program for teenage girls, but they did not receive grants; they were merely participants in the program. This led to a collective question within the Fund: why not support teenage girls and finance their projects? Who better than them to address their own issues? At the same time, we noticed that little attention was given to teenage girls both in Armenia and abroad; there were few foundations that supported them,” she says.
According to Gohar, starting the program for teenage girls was risky and challenging due to the involvement of minors and associated legal issues. “It was risky, but since it was successful from the very first attempt, we were excited and decided to continue at any cost.”
Over its 5 years of operation, the Women’s Fund Armenia has financed 33 projects for adolescent girls, representing 10 percent of all projects as of August 2024.
These projects ranged from placing feminist posters in parking lots to creating feminist corners in schools, board games, and awareness campaigns. It is important to note that these projects predominantly took place in rural or small urban communities, where adolescent girls often lack resources and opportunities.
Projects for teenage girls by year: 2020 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
Adolescent projects are the pulse of the Women’s Fund, akin to the new branches of a tree that, through growth and extension, shape the Fund’s direction and, more broadly, influence the feminist movement in Armenia. Each generation of teenagers brings new ideas and approaches. While earlier projects focused on “classical” methods, such as women’s rights courses, discussions, and creating feminist spaces, recent projects are more innovative. Now, teenage girls are engaged in entirely new and original projects, including feminist board games and interactive art activism.
“Only 4 years have passed, but the new projects are markedly different. The teenagers of recent years bring a completely new vibe and methodology. Times have changed significantly, and our teenagers are evolving with the times—they are, in fact, ahead of them and setting their own narratives. It’s fascinating to see how rapidly things change,” says Gohar with a smile.
Cultural Changes and Contributions to the Feminist Movement
The programs for teenage girls mark the beginning of a new cultural shift in Armenia. Through these projects, the Fund underscores the importance of teenage girls’ voices and their need for access to resources to express their problems and concerns. This is an effort to transform public culture.
It’s worth noting that the program aimed at teenage girls, which focuses on their empowerment and independence, also has a positive impact on the WFA itself. Our teenagers teach us to remain adaptable and open to change, maintaining feminist flexibility. For instance, staff now communicate with a group of teenagers via messenger chat instead of official emails, and we receive video grant applications rather than traditional ones. These approaches have been well received by the feminist community and our international partners, who find them innovative and engaging. “It’s really cool; we present ourselves in a way that attracts these unique teenagers,” says the WFA President.
Moreover, perhaps the most significant impact is that projects for teenage girls contribute to the stability of the feminist movement in Armenia and lay the foundation for its future direction. Just as the new branches of a tree represent its future, our teenagers represent the future of the feminist movement.
Attracting Resources and Fundraising
Ensuring the continuation of projects for adolescent girls is now one of the Women’s Fund Armenia’s main challenges. Gohar Shahnazaryan highlights the difficulties of fundraising, noting: “We started this project through the Global Fund. Without their support, we might not have launched it, or we might have run a small program for just a year without continuity. Unfortunately, there are currently no international feminist funds specifically targeting adolescent girls. Many people talk about supporting teenage girls, but in practice, such support is almost non-existent,” she says.
Gohar adds that this situation is partly due to a lack of feminist lobbying. “Currently, public organizations focus on a few main issues, leaving teenage girls’ problems in the background. Perhaps international foundations with greater influence should advocate for this topic,” she emphasizes, noting that the issue of teenage girls is often overlooked in international and regional meetings.
Since its foundation, the program for teenage girls has always been a priority for the Women’s Fund Armenia, which continually seeks various mechanisms and methods to maintain it. “Unfortunately, we cannot establish a dedicated program for teenagers, but we strive to find alternatives. We mainly work with foundations that are flexible regarding content, allowing us to allocate resources to projects for adolescent girls. While this approach helps, it does not resolve the core issue,” she says, stressing the importance of sustaining these projects, as no other feminist grant programs for teenage girls exist in Armenia.
Support for teenagers from feminist funds and organizations, providing them with space and opportunities, is arguably the most feminist action. The Women’s Fund Armenia adheres to this principle, contributing not only to the future of the feminist movement but also exemplifying feminism’s core values: the importance of every voice being heard and the right of everyone to participate in the process of change, regardless of age.
Yelena Sargsyan
