Comments on: Christmas in Kharberd http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/12/26/christmas-in-kharberd/ Journalism and Photography from Armenia and the Surrounding Region Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:44:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Onnik http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/12/26/christmas-in-kharberd/#comment-2977 Wed, 27 Dec 2006 20:08:31 +0000 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/12/26/christmas-in-kharberd/#comment-2977 Sure, it's been turned around a lot since Harut Balasanian took over and I'm fortunate enough to now being able to call him a friend after knowing him through my projects at Kharberd. However, there is one big, big problem there. Basically, what happens to the kids when they turn 18. At present Kharberd is over capacity and up until a year ago at least, Harut was not sending them on to the Vardenis Psychiatric Institute where they'd just rot and die very soon afterwards. Indeed, this is the biggest problem facing Kharberd and there's a great need to rehabilitate some of the kids, integrate others back into their homes as well as society, or establish some notion of fostering. Of course, some will have to be sent to Vardenis so it's about time that people drastically changed that place which resembles a 18th or 19th Century English Bedlam. Anyway, Kharberd is a success story compared to how it was in the early to mid 90s, or indeed compared to its <a href="http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/10/24/kaspi-orphanage-for-children-with-special-needs/">equivalent in Kaspi</a>, Georgia. I guess we have <a href="http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/02/28/warm-hearth-new-center-for-mentally-disabled-adults-opens-in-armenia/#more-710">Warm Hearth</a> now, but it's nothing compared to <a href="http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2005/10/26/the-first-step-tbilisi/">The First Step</a> in Tbilisi, and indeed, is not meant to be the same either. Perhaps both approaches are needed in both Republics. Sure, it’s been turned around a lot since Harut Balasanian took over and I’m fortunate enough to now being able to call him a friend after knowing him through my projects at Kharberd. However, there is one big, big problem there. Basically, what happens to the kids when they turn 18. At present Kharberd is over capacity and up until a year ago at least, Harut was not sending them on to the Vardenis Psychiatric Institute where they’d just rot and die very soon afterwards.

Indeed, this is the biggest problem facing Kharberd and there’s a great need to rehabilitate some of the kids, integrate others back into their homes as well as society, or establish some notion of fostering. Of course, some will have to be sent to Vardenis so it’s about time that people drastically changed that place which resembles a 18th or 19th Century English Bedlam. Anyway, Kharberd is a success story compared to how it was in the early to mid 90s, or indeed compared to its equivalent in Kaspi, Georgia.

I guess we have Warm Hearth now, but it’s nothing compared to The First Step in Tbilisi, and indeed, is not meant to be the same either. Perhaps both approaches are needed in both Republics.

]]> by: Nessuna http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/12/26/christmas-in-kharberd/#comment-2974 Wed, 27 Dec 2006 17:35:35 +0000 http://oneworld.blogsome.com/2006/12/26/christmas-in-kharberd/#comment-2974 In few words, he says that the orphanage left a very bright impression. Kids were dressed ok, and you could feel that they are being taken care of. After the show, the kids sang and danced a little, and they were given some sweets. Mika was especially impressed by Ira, who works in the orphange for the past 6 years (the young woman on the last photo): "If there is anybody who loves kids, it's her." In few words, he says that the orphanage left a very bright impression. Kids were dressed ok, and you could feel that they are being taken care of. After the show, the kids sang and danced a little, and they were given some sweets. Mika was especially impressed by Ira, who works in the orphange for the past 6 years (the young woman on the last photo): “If there is anybody who loves kids, it’s her.”

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