Yerevan, Armenia - On February 26, Save the Children in Armenia hosted a national conference in Yerevan to discuss the Model of Inclusive Vocational Education and Employment for People with Disabilities (PWD) and to identify remaining gaps in fostering equal employment opportunities for the PWDs.  Artem Asatryan, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Karen Hilliard, USAID Armenia Mission Director, Hakob Hakobyan, Chairperson of the NA Standing committee on Social Affairs, and Arsen Stepanyan, Save the Children Country Director addressed the participants of the conference.

There are around 200,000 officially registered people with disabilities in Armenia. Many of them face challenges due to societal perceptions, poorly enforced regulations, and discrimination at the workplace. As well, PWDs often lack adequate access to information about employment opportunities and their rights. To help address these challenges, the USAID-funded Livelihood Improvement through Fostered Employment for People with Disabilities (LIFE) program, which is implemented by Save the Children, piloted the Model of Inclusive Vocational Education and Employment for PWDs.

The model encapsulates LIFE program’s experience in supporting professional orientation, elimination of psychological barriers, development of career guidance mechanisms, provision of vocational education and training, awareness raising activities, building capacities of service provider organizations, as well as job placement and post-placement support to PWDs. The ultimate goal is to ensure greater social inclusion of PWDs and acceptance by employers and the public at large.

Since 2012, LIFE program has been promoting equal employment opportunities and access to employment as a basic human right for people with disabilities. The program has provided over 550 PWDs with permanent jobs, ensured inclusive education environment in 44 technical and vocational schools, helped 930 young Armenians with disabilities to receive vocational education, and supported the establishment of 19 social enterprises.