Estefanía Mendoza Tarache

2024 IVLP Impact Award Project: Free & Safe Schools Program

Estefanía Mendoza Tarache is a human rights activist and feminist, certified as a specialist in gender violence by the CIM-OAS and the Ministry of Women of Argentina. She currently serves as the General Coordinator of Mulier, and organization she co-founded in 2017, where she leads initiatives such as #LibresYSeguras, aimed at preventing trafficking among migrants, offering free psychological support to women facing gender violence, and driving advocacy efforts to prioritize women's rights on the societal agenda. She previously workedas a consultant on gender-based violence for UN Women, UNFPA, and other organizations. She holds a Master's degree in Political Science and Public Law.  

IVLP Impact Award Project: Free & Safe Schools Program 

This initiative provides public and private schools with comprehensive resources and pedagogical tools to educate teachers, parents, caregivers, and students in human trafficking. Schools participating in the program commit to integrating the online training into staff hiring and student registration processes, implementing in-person workshops for students using the educational game "Untangle" ("Desenrédate"), and conducting annual awareness activities. Upon meeting program requirements, schools will receive recognition as "Free & Safe Schools," along with certificates, promotional materials, and social media acknowledgment. The project is designed to inform and train the education community, create dynamic educational strategies, foster partnerships with organizations, and disseminate resources and tools through a dedicated website. Through these activities, the program seeks to empower schools to actively prevent human trafficking and exploitation and promote a safer learning environment.  

In September, Estefania developed the first version of the content and material for the educational game Desenrédate. Desenrédate is designed to inform children about human trafficking and child exploitation. She is also creating dynamic educational strategies, fostering partnerships with organizations, and disseminating resources and tools through a dedicated website, which is currently under design.

“The Free & Safe Schools Program hopes to create pedagogical tools while providing a platform with verified information so teachers, caregivers and students can learn prevention of human trafficking and child exploitation in a safe, easy and age-appropriate way.” - Estefanía Mendoza Tarache  

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Estefanía participated in the IVLP Project Combating Trafficking in Persons organized by the U.S. Department of State and the Mississippi Consortium for International Development, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State Office of International Visitors program branch in New York City, Global Minnesota, Global Ties Arizona, and International House.  

“I met with representatives of ECPAT-USA in New York, where I learned the scope of their virtual training programs for the prevention of child exploitation in private companies.” - Estefanía Mendoza Tarache 

U.S. Communities Visited   

Phoenix, AZ; Washington, DC; Minneapolis, MN; Charlotte, NC; New York City, NY 

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