Help Prevent Child Marriage in Rural Guatemala

We are so excited to share WJI’s strategic plan for growth: A Just Future for Women; Investing in WJI’s Legacy. Over the past decade, WJI has emerged as a regional leader in gender-based violence prevention and response. Today, we are looking to the future with ambitious plans to grow and increase our impact.

By 2027, we will triple our impact and reach more than 500,000 individuals.

To achieve this, we will replicate our evidence-based programming, share our legal empowerment methodology, and strengthen WJI’s organizational capacity.

Replicate 

• Double our coverage in the Maya Kaqchikel region through evidence-based programming that combines rights education with mobile service delivery.
• By 2027, we will reach more than 25,000 women and girls.

Scale

• Multiply our impact by adapting and sharing our proven legal empowerment methodology, with community-based organizations across Central America.
• By 2027, we will partner with 100 civil society organizations, reaching over 300,000 individuals indirectly.

Sustain

• Ensure WJI’s legacy by investing in our organizational capacity and expert team.  

• By 2027, WJI will equip our team with the tools and resources to exceed our goals.

We hope you will join us as we empower women and girls to become leaders and changemakers in their communities, creating a brighter, safer, more equitable future for generations to come.

You can read the full plan here!

Links:

• WJI's Strategic Plan for Growth 2023-2027

May 2024 GlobalGiving Update: Impact Statistics in WJI’s 1st Quarter

The WJI team is hard at work and we are thrilled to share an update on our impact in the field! 

Impact Highlights

• 159 girls gained skills and knowledge to delay marriage through participation in the Adolescent Girls Program, while 104 parents and community leaders attended workshops. 
• 233 women received legal counseling from the Legal Services Program, 90% of whom are survivors of violence.
• 267 women increased their knowledge of their rights through the Women’s Rights Education Program.
• 44 Community Advocates graduated from the 2-year training program and 29 Advocates are currently in training.
• 102 justice operators and service providers received training on gender-based violence. 
• 141 individuals from 3 organizations received training and technical assistance on GBV prevention.  

WJI’s Impact in the Adolescent Girls Program

We asked the mothers of AGP program participants to share the impact our program has had on them and their daughters.

Why do you think we should delay child marriages?

“I tell my daughters not to get married. I was 15 years old when I got married, and I didn’t know how to be a mother. My mother died when I was 7, so I didn’t have anyone to tell me how to maintain a marriage or handle children…Being married isn’t easy and I tell my children to enjoy their youth. If you have the chance to study, then study, and finish school. That’s what I share with my daughters. My mentality about that used to be different but now it’s changed.” - mother of Adolescent Girls Program (AGP) participant, Chirijuyu’, Tecpán

What is something that you want, or dream for your daughter? 

“At my daughter's age, I was thinking about a ton of things. But unfortunately, we were a big family, I was one of 10. I saw the needs that my parents had and I decided I wasn’t going to study anymore, and to give the opportunity to others. But now my husband and I decided to do everything possible to give the chance to all three of our children to study. I don’t want the same that happened to me to happen to them. That’s why I want my daughters to participate in these programs.” - mother of AGP participant, Panimacac, Tecpán

What could you do as mothers to better support your daughters?

 “I think one thing that would be really important is attention. When our daughter comes to us and wants to talk about something or know something, sometimes I end up just saying ‘Oh, ask me later!’ or ‘I have a lot to do!’. And the worst thing would be that she’s going through something hard or a crisis and I didn’t pay attention. What she wants is to get my attention, and sometimes she comes and hugs me and saying ‘Mom I love you so much!’ and I know it’s something she needs.” - mother of AGP participant, Panimacac, Tecpán

Links:

• Check out WJI's Impact Report!