“Aregak” First Inclusive and Barrier-free Bakery-Café unique in the area was opened in Gyumri. In the center of Gyumri the address- Abovyan 242 the inclusive café and bakery will implement its activity where exclusively young people having disability and parents of disabled children will work.

The opening of café and bakery took place on 14 September.  Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Pyotr Svitalski, the Ambassador of Germany Matias Kisler, the vice minister of Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs RA Zaruhi Batoyan, representatives of regional and town authorities headed by Shirak deputy governor Sofya Hovsepyan, Gyumri mayor Samvel Balasanyan.  EU Ambassador Pyotr Svitalski found the initiative and implementation of the project important emphasizing that such projects promote inclusive society fulfillment. The Ambassador touched upon the projects being implemented in Gyumri financed by EU. “gyumri is the most European city in Armenia. With this bakery Gyumri is becoming more European. The project is meant to inspire the people having limited abilities and encourage them to believe that they’re the important part of the society. We wanted to implement the project just in Gyumri very much so that it will become an example of an inclusive city”,- mentioned Pyotr Svitalski. After greeting speech, blessings and congratulations of Rafayel Archbishop Minasyan the Armenian Catholics leader of Armenia, Georgia, Russia and Eastern Europe, welcoming speeches were also delivered by the vice minister of Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs RA Zaruhi Batoyan, Shirak deputy governor Sofya Hovsepyan, Gyumri mayor Samvel Balasanyan. In his speech the Mayor greeted and congratulated Gyumri people   in the opening of the café, then he found the existence of the café important which enables young people having disability work opportunities. “I am congratulating first all people of Gyumri, all Caritas members and all those people who work in the frames of this project. Work is the guarantee of a dignified life. Unfortunately I have to notice that in Armenia the state is late in the sense of creating equal opportunities. We must do more, bigger steps with bigger investments so that we’ll be able to fill what we missed. In this concern I find it important to cooperate with community, government and international organizations”,- mentioned the vice minister of Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs RA Zaruhi Batoyan.

“Thank you for this day as this day is a present not only for me but also for everyone. Today we confirmed that we’re ready to change our way of thinking, our attitude and believe that there is no “limited ability” concept. This has become a proof for everyone that everyone is almighty and everyone can do what they want. Creating inclusiveness in Shirak region has begun from today and this is an example for the whole republic”,- emphasized Shirak region deputy governor Sofya Hovsepyan. The project is implemented by EU co-financing. It’s also co-financed by “Caritas Austira” and Austrian development Cooperation. It’s the project of “Armenian caritas” Benevolent NGO and “Emily Aregak” Support Center to children and young people having disability. The center’s mission is to serve disabled children and their families, promote inclusive society fulfillment. “Aregak” bakery and café being the direct bearer of that mission is an exemplary area for revealing opportunities, creating inclusive atmosphere, giving new opportunities for young people having disability where tasty bread, cookies and coffee are served.