On February 27 in the International Day of Non-Governmental Organizations “Armenian Caritas” Benevolent Non-Governmental Organization presented projects funded by the European Union.

12 schools and youth from the region will participate in the project “Community action for full inclusion in education” who are trained within the framework of projects. During the meeting project teams presented the results of the work done before.

The projects “First inclusive bakery and coffee shop in Gyumri” and “Community action for full inclusion in education ” are funded by the European Union, Austrian Development Cooperation and Caritas Austria. The projects aim at creating a more inclusive environment in schools as well as train and direct young people with disabilities to labor market. The schools, included in the project, presented their development plans for creating a more inclusive environment and the problems existing at schools in an interactive way. These are mainly the absence of ramps and the inconveniences of toilets and corridors.

The most interesting and “delicious” piece of the day belonged to the young people of the “First Inclusive Bakery and Coffe shop”. They presented their manual works, herbal teas, which they grew themselves and their hand made cookies. 20-year- old Mikayel is the beneficiary of Gyumri’s “Emili Aregak” Day care center for the children and youth with multiple disabilities. He is already well-known in Gyumri, because he is an experienced baker and he bakes bread so skillfully, that it is not only for his relatives, but also for the children of the center. Mikayel and his friends are convinced that the project will provide an opportunity to involve people with disabilities in the labor market. The cafe is planned to be opened in the summer.

Solution or relief of people with disabilities is one of the key components of Armenian Caritas’ social work and is a practical manifestation of the Armenian realities in the basic provisions of the International Conventions on the Social Thought and Human Rights Protection of the Catholic Church. In his speech, emphasized Father Hovsep Galstyan.

In his speech, Father Hovsep Galstyan stated that in particular, these two programs embody and practically interpret the following essential principles of the Church’s social doctrine: 1. respect each person’s dignity, seeing God’s image and similarity starting from fertilization to natural death, 2. Ensure the maximum participation of all members of the community in the community-building process of universal good, 3.To participate in the whole community with solidarity and mutual love for each other (J 13.1).

According to him, the programs presented by Armenian Caritas perfectly reflect the applicability and harmony of these Church principles with European moral values. In this light, the cooperation of the European Union and Armenian Caritas in the sphere of human rights protection is more meaningful