Argentine organisation expands prevention, treatment and education initiatives following international recognition at ICE Barcelona 2026
Fundacion Convivir, an Argentine organisation dedicated to addiction prevention, treatment and research, has received a significant boost to its international profile following a €20,000 contribution from the ICE Sustainable Gambling Zone (SGZ).
The donation was presented during ICE Barcelona 2026 as part of an €80,000 charitable initiative designed to support organisations working to strengthen safer gambling and player protection. Four organisations were selected to receive €20,000 each, including Proyecto FES, FEJAR, BetBlocker and Fundacion Convivir.
For Fundacion Convivir President Mercedes Aranguren, the value of the contribution extends beyond the financial support. She said the recognition has helped bring greater international attention to the organisation’s longstanding work in prevention, education, treatment and research.
Four Decades of Addiction Prevention
Fundacion Convivir has been active for 41 years, developing programmes aimed at addressing addiction-related challenges and supporting individuals, families and communities.
The organisation works with both public and private institutions and has increasingly focused its efforts on gambling-related harm, particularly among children and adolescents.
According to Aranguren, the international recognition associated with the ICE initiative has created an opportunity to demonstrate the scale and importance of the organisation’s work to a broader industry audience.
The €20,000 contribution is being directed towards prevention and treatment initiatives through Fundacion Convivir’s outpatient centre.
Expanding Support for Families
One of the organisation’s priorities is to strengthen educational programmes aimed at families and other adults who play an important role in children’s lives.
Fundacion Convivir plans to expand workshops designed to help parents, educators and other adults recognise warning signs associated with problematic gambling and excessive digital activity.
The organisation believes early intervention is particularly important as young people become increasingly exposed to online entertainment, digital platforms and sports-betting content.
By improving awareness among adults, the organisation hopes to give families practical tools to identify potential risks and respond before gambling-related problems become more serious.
Greater Focus on Research and Education
Fundacion Convivir has also continued developing its educational activities through a quarterly webinar programme.
Some of these sessions have been organised in collaboration with ALEA, allowing the organisation to reach community groups and other stakeholders across Argentina.
Another planned initiative is a scientific symposium at the University of La Plata. The event will examine issues surrounding mental health, gambling addiction and excessive screen use, bringing together perspectives from the academic and public-health sectors.
The organisation’s activities reflect a broader view of gambling harm that goes beyond traditional player-protection measures.
Tackling Sports Betting Risks Among Young People
Social-media awareness is another major component of Fundacion Convivir’s strategy.
Through a collaboration with the Argentine Advertising Council, the organisation is supporting campaigns designed to educate children and young people about the potential risks associated with sports betting.
The focus on younger audiences comes as digital sports-betting content becomes increasingly visible across social-media platforms and online environments.
Fundacion Convivir believes prevention campaigns can play an important role in helping young people understand gambling risks before they develop harmful behaviours.
A Broader Definition of Responsible Gambling
While welcoming the attention placed on safer gambling at ICE Barcelona, Aranguren has called for the industry to adopt a broader understanding of responsibility.
She argued that player protection should not focus exclusively on individual gamblers. Instead, responsible gambling strategies should also consider communities, public policy, the wider social environment and the characteristics of gambling products.
This approach, she suggested, would allow the industry and social organisations to address gambling-related risks from multiple perspectives rather than relying solely on individual responsibility.
Strengthening Industry Collaboration
Aranguren also highlighted initiatives such as the ICE Research Institute as potentially valuable platforms for developing greater cooperation between the gambling industry and organisations focused on harm prevention.
She believes stronger collaboration could support the development of more effective research, educational programmes and prevention measures.
For Fundacion Convivir, the €20,000 donation therefore represents more than additional funding. It provides an opportunity to expand programmes in Argentina while placing the organisation’s work on a larger international stage.
As the gambling industry continues to face growing expectations around player protection, Fundacion Convivir’s experience demonstrates the importance of combining treatment with early prevention, family education, research and broader community engagement.
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