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  • $46,790
  • Argentina

Fundación para Estudio e Investigación de la Mujer

Fundación para Estudio e Investigación de la Mujer

Founded in 1989, Fundación para Estudio e Investigación de la Mujer (FEIM) is a nongovernmental organization that is guided by a mission to defend and protect human rights for girls and women. To achieve this goal, FEIM advocates for gender equity and improved living conditions, conducts research, and develops projects to work toward equal access to education, employment and health services. In the past five years, FEIM has directly supported 20,000 adolescents and women in communities throughout Argentina.

Child marriages and early unions are common and often normalized in Argentina. According to UNICEF, 15 percent—or 2.7 million—of Argentinian girls are married before the age of 18.  A number of factors contribute to this trend, including social and cultural norms and traditions; poverty; and a lack of comprehensive sexual education. As a result, many girls leave school at an early age and find themselves in vulnerable circumstances that diminish their agency and decision-making power. FEIM is dedicated to addressing these challenges and the resulting intergenerational cycle of poverty that limits girls’ potential. 

With support from the Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund, FEIM will implement a comprehensive prevention program in regions of Argentina where rates of early marriages and unions are the highest. The program will teach girls, their families, and local indigenous leaders (Wichí, Qom and Guaraní) about the risks associated with child marriage as well as prevention strategies. A key priority of the project is ensuring that training materials are culturally sensitive and appropriate for the local context. To that end, FEIM will examine cultural, religious, and ancestral traditions and values in the project areas, providing a curriculum that is tailored to the unique circumstances in these regions. 

FEIM expects to directly reach 2,000 adolescent girls through this project. The girls will have the opportunity to learn about their rights and access resources to support their wellbeing. The project also aims to change local attitudes regarding child marriage, recognizing that social and cultural norms play a significant role in perpetuating child marriages in Argentina. The ultimate goal of the project is to promote a culture that protects girls’ and women’s rights, enabling them to fully participate in and contribute to society.

To learn more about FEIM, please visit the organization’s website and social media pages: 

See more projects: Latin America & the Caribbean, Child Marriage