Project duration: 01.09.2023 – 28.02.2026
Location: Shirak Region
Overall objective: Contribute to inclusive and equitable quality education for children with disabilities and their parents in Kosovo (Prizren, South Kosovo) and Armenia (Shirak Region), in accordance with Sustainable Development Goal 4, 5 and 10, Art 28 and Art 23 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Children, and Art 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Project outputs:
Output 1- 80 CWD (Children with disabilities) are encouraged to realize their rights and be active parts of their schools
Output 2- Teachers are provided with support (OR: are able) to work with groups of children with diverse needs.
Output 3- Index teams of target educational institutions are motivated and supported to make their schools and kindergartens an inclusive place and promote inclusion.
Output 4- Parents with a special focus on fathers have increased knowledge in taking care of their daughters and sons with disabilities according to their needs
Output 5- COMMUNITY (international and local): Benefits from diverse exchanges, awareness-raising, and the piloting of new models.
Project activities
1.1 Individual support for 80 girls and boys with disabilities (social work).
1.2 Smooth transition (from Early Education Center, Home, or Kindergarten) to school.
1.3 Activation of youth to fight for an inclusive community in Armenia
2.1 Methodological trainings (from external providers) for 330 educational staff.
2.2 Peer-to-peer trainings for educational staff on inclusion topics (open classes, peer observations).
2.3 Production of 3 short films on inclusive practices.
3.1 Elaboration of inclusive school development plans by the school index teams that have been formed in the first phase.
3.2 Organization of round tables on topics of inclusive policies, cultures, and practices.
3.3 Introduction of a prize (small grant to realize an inclusive project) for the best inclusive school and kindergarten in the region.
3.4 Building an inclusive community by organizing sensitization events
4.1 Facilitation of already existing parent self-help group meetings and creation of new parent self-help groups (SHG).
4.2 Organizing workshops for parents, with a special focus on involving fathers on topics such as self-help methodology, early childhood education, and positive discipline in parenting.
4.3 Establishment and Maintenance of self-support group for fathers.
5.1 International online exchange for teachers, peer-to-peer, and exchange on fathers’ engagement and digital and/or face-to-face cross-country learning.
5.2 Advocacy activities to improve policy, so CWDs are fully supported, enabled, included, and empowered to participate fully on an equal basis in education.
Project beneficiaries
- 80 children with disabilities (CWD) in Shirak Region
- CWD parents
- 6 schools and 6 kindergartens of the Shirak Region
- Teachers/Educators of target schools of Shirak Region
- Pupils and youth
Project is Financed by: Austrian Development Agency (ADA) with funds from the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC), Caritas Austria (Innsbruck).
Partners: The project is being implemented in partnership with Caritas Kosova.
Project Budget: 235 411 €
Project Manager: Gayane Norikyan
Project Coordinator: Zina Hovhannisyan