World Vision Child Development Center, Malatia-Sebastia, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2008
One theme that’s been a consistent one over the past few years of living and working in Armenia has been that of socially vulnerable families, children deprived of parental care, and those with disabilities. It’s for that reason that when the new British Ambassador to Armenia, Charles Lonsdale, and I were discussing the possibility of holding an exhibition here, the matter of disabilities in particular came up. Originally planned to be staged on 3 December — International Disability Day — an exhibition might now be delayed until next year, but the work has already begun.
In cooperation with those working in the area of integrating disabled children into mainstream education and society such as World Vision, UNICEF and other organizations, the idea is to promote reforms being made to achieve such aims as well as to promote those implementing much-needed changes — not only in terms of legislation and the creation of centers which can help support families with disabled children, but also with regards to changing attitudes and stereotypes prevalent in society.
In the past, for example, such children were hidden away at home or placed in institutions, but the real need is to instead integrate them as much as possible. This isn’t the first time I’ve dealt with such matters, of course. In 2005, for example, I wrote two articles on the local Bridge of Hope NGO for UNICEF. While one article touched upon a specific case, another provided an overview of the organization working in this area.
According to official statistics, there are over 8,000 children with disabilities living in the Republic of Armenia. In part the legacy of the soviet-era but also the result of the present socio-economic situation, many of these children have been isolated from society and are excluded from mainstream education.
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“We are creating equal opportunities and access to education for children with disabilities,” says Susanna Tadevosyan, President of the non governmental organization (NGO) Bridge of Hope. Established in 1996, the NGO continues to expand based on its experience to date and is implementing programs in nine different areas.
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“My daughter was born with Cerebral Palsy,” says one mother whose child has benefited from the work of the NGO. “Relatives tried to convince me that my daughter, Ashkhen, wasn’t normal and would destroy my life and that of my family. My husband abandoned me and I was left alone with my child.”
Ashkhen grew up in isolation and was deprived of the opportunity to interact with other children until she was later enrolled into a specialized boarding school that offered only a watered-down curriculum for children with learning disabilities. Separated from her mother for most of the week, Ashkhen returned home on weekends. In 1996, however, when her mother heard about the Bridge of Hope NGO, Tatevik was eager to find out more.
“When I entered the center the first thing I noticed was that there were non-disabled children there,” she says. “I never thought that disabled and non-disabled children could relate to each other.” Sixty percent of the children that attend are not disabled and of those that are, nearly half are diagnosed with cerebral palsy and a third with Down’s Syndrome.
Over the years, while still attending the specialized school, Tatevik says that Ashkhen developed quickly, becoming more communicable and confident. In 1999, at the age of 15, Bridge of Hope helped Ashkhen make the move to a regular school close to where she lives. She is now one of the most active and high-achieving children in her class and thanks to including both disabled and non-disabled children in the centers, stereotypes are being broken down.
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