Yerevan, Armenia – On September 20, Save the Children in Armenia organized the close-out event of the Livelihood Improvement through Fostered Employment (LIFE) for People with Disabilities program, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

USAID Armenia Mission Director Deborah Grieser and Country Director of Save the Children Armenia Representative Office Arsen Stepanyan welcomed the participants of the event. “People with disabilities often encounter disadvantages and can be among the most excluded members of society. However, I know that they routinely show tremendous resilience, and the ability to achieve great things. When people with disabilities are empowered to fully participate in society, to engage, and to lead, the entire society gains,” Ms. Grieser said in her remarks. She acknowledged the Government of Armenia’s efforts to promote the social inclusion of people with disabilities, noting that the success of any reform in this area would require continued government commitment, further work on legal reform, as well as changes in the mentality of society.

There are approximately 200,000 officially registered people with disabilities (PWDs) in Armenia. Many of them are challenged by societal perceptions, poorly enforced regulations, and discrimination at the workplace. People with disabilities also often lack adequate access to information about their rights. In response to these challenges, since 2012 LIFE program has promoted equal employment opportunities and access to employment for PWDs as a basic human right. LIFE closely cooperated with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the State Employment Agency, Employment Centers, PWDs, civil society, local and marz authorities, service providers, technical and vocational educators, and training institutions and employers.

The closing event, held in Yeraz Park in Yerevan, highlighted LIFE program’s achievements during the past four years. Thanks to the Program’s efforts:

• 670 PWDs underwent Work Readiness and Life Skills Trainings organized by program partners (Unison, HDP Foundation and Full Life NGOs), and 60 PWDs with visual impairment benefited from special courses based on “Arev” and “Jaws” computer programs;
• 600 young people with disabilities from special and boarding schools took part in professional orientation workshops organized by the Program;
• 900 PWD were trained in vocational education institutions of Yerevan, Ararat, Gegharkunik, Lori and Shirak;
• 256 young people with disabilities entered technical and vocational educational institutions (TVET) to continue their education;
• 1952 teachers of 90 TVETs attended a series of workshops on the main principles of work with PWD and inclusive education;
• 170 representatives of State Employment Agency and Medical Social Expertise Agency of the Ministry of Labor and Social Issues were trained on main principles of work with PWDs;
• 36 Employment Centers of Yerevan and marzes, as well as Medical-Social Expertise Agency’s Yerevan office were equipped with Manual Ability Testing System (MAST) tests, and 315 PWD were assessed through MAST equipment;
• More than 720 employers participated in round table discussions on PWD employment issues organized by LIFE’s partner organizations;
• 985 PWDs participated in job fairs in Yerevan and other cities of Armenia;
• 19 social enterprises were established in cooperation with NGOs, businesses and municipalities;
• 948 persons with disabilities have been employed since the Program’s inception in January 2012;
• More than 18 special manuals and handbooks were developed and printed within the framework of the program. The Program, in cooperation with the academic community, conducted a public opinion poll and research on Needs and Barriers of PWD Employment;
• Several nation-wide awareness raising campaigns, including “We All Have the Right to Work”, “It’s Time to Realize Our Abilities” and “I am ABLE to Work – Justice Is In Your Hands”, “Discrimination does not work,” were organized between 2012–2015, and six public service announcements were produced and aired during the campaigns;
• Numerous research and analysis on PWD employment issues were conducted within the framework and in support of the program activities.

The USAID-funded LIFE program was implemented by Save the Children in partnership with Activa International Foundation, Unison NGO, Human Dignity and Peace (HDP) Foundation, and Full Life NGO.