On 11 April, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs RA and Armenian Caritas on the launch of the first small group home in Vanadzor. The memorandum of understanding aims to increase the effectiveness of social work serving children who are in difficult life situations and their families, to change the methods of round the clock care, as well as a child’s right to live with a family. During the meeting, reforms in the area of children, particularly the process of reorganizing institutions with round the clock care, were discussed. Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Artem Asatryan has found the current work important and hopes that within the framework of cooperation to start the reorganization process based on the needs and proper assessment of a child and and matching them with the appropriate family and social services.

On April 4, on the occasion of Motherhood and Beauty Day, within the EU funded “Recognise. Protect. Realise.” project, the “Armenian Caritas” Benevolent NGO, the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia, the Center for Coordination of Syrian-Armenians’ Issues NGO with support of Caritas Austria and the Municipality of Yerevan opened “The Breath of Syrian-Armenian Culture in Yerevan” Charity Fair near the Swan Lake. Handmade works of Syrian-Armenians, sweets and jewelry were presented at the Charity Fair. At the Charity Fair RA Deputy Minister of Diaspora Serzh Srapionyan, Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Christoph Bierwirth,

Violeta Baghumyan is a fourteen-year-old student of Armenian Caritas’ benevolent social organization, the Emili Aregak Centre, where she receives an inclusive education. Violeta likes to dance and paint. She paints postcards with the help of the art-therapist Mariam Vardanyan, which are either dedicated to Centre visitors or put up for sale at auction. Violeta has a Down Syndrome and an additional 5 children with Down Syndrome also attend Emili Aregak. Violeta and her friends know that March 21 is World Down Syndrome Day and every year since 2012, the United Nations has observed it. Its main purpose is to raise public awareness concerning Down Syndrome and to help contribute to the development of a more inclusive and barrier-free society.

In the framework of the project “Preparation of 10 gold jewelry professionals in Jradzor and Aregnadem communities of Amasia region”, 10 young people gained professional skills in jewelry and metal art. The trained young people will have the opportunity to engage in individual and entrepreneurial activities in the future. The project was implemented in the Shirak region of Armenia, in Jradzor and Aregnadik communities of the Amasia region, located in the Armenia-Turkey bordering zone. Distance from Gyumri is 18-28 km. Under the new government decision, the communities of Jradzor and Aregnadem are included in the list of borderline and high mountainous communities.

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.