World Vision Child Development Center, Malatia-Sebastia, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2008

As mentioned in a previous post, The Caucasian Knot has now started to work on shooting images for an exhibition on disabilities and especially the need to integrate handicapped children into mainstream education as well as support them in preparing for later life as adults. As part of this project which will likely last until the spring, The Caucasian Knot today returned to World Vision’s Malatia Child Development Center.

Although World Vision came to Armenia in the aftermath of the 1988 Earthquake, the Center opened in 2002. However, the organization also works with socially vulnerable children and those with special needs in 17 community-based centers and 21 inclusive education kindergartens scattered throughout the country. Last September, 71 children with special needs were thus able to enter the first year of school thanks to services delivered by the organization.

[…] They were treated by a speech therapist, an art therapist and a psychologist; participated in performances organized by World Vision. They learnt to communicate with other children, and were taught to read and write.

Speaking to The Caucasian Knot, Tigran Tshorokhyan, World Vision’s Technical Support Team’s Child Protection Specialist, describes the Malatia center as just one part of the organization’s work in the area of child protection. The main objective is the provision of relevant services to children with special needs in order to integrate them into mainstream education whenever possible. It also serves as a resource center for the other community centers, 10 of which have been handed over to local government.

We also undertake our own awareness raising campaigns which offer the real possibility to change the mentality of society and to make it more inclusive when it comes to children, and especially those with learning disabilities or special needs.

The full post accompanied by photographs and where comments can be left is available on The Caucasian Knot.