ARMENIAN FUNDRAISER FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Reuters AlertNet, UK
June 14 2006

Source: World Vision Middle East/Eastern Europe office (MEERO)

Essential operations give children a chance to live a healthier
and happier life World Vision MEERO,
‘Giving your whole heart to the whole world’ was the slogan of a
fundraising reception for essential surgery of children with special
needs hosted by World Vision Armenia’s Child Protection Programmes
(CPP), in the Armenian capital Yerevan last month.

During the event special catalogues with photos and data of eight
children needing urgent medical intervention were distributed among
the guests. Participants also watched a video depicting past problems
and the new life of children who have undergone surgery with World
Vision support.

‘I am a musician and my only dream was to learn music professionally
and perform on the stage. But with my heavy limb I was ashamed to
socialize even with neighbors. Now I can walk properly, I gained
self-confident, and I attend musical school. Now I WILL go on stage’,
says Edik Manucharyan, 16 in the video.

The reception brought together members of the National Assembly,
representatives of charity organizations, NGOs, the Armenian Apostolic
Church and the private sector.

‘Helping children in need is a very noble cause, and I am grateful
to World Vision for bringing us all together to help children with
special needs’, said in her speech Chairwoman of the Association of
Diplomats’ Wives Nani Oskanian.

Kind participation of donors will help to provide for the surgery of
two of these children. All participants of the reception are provided
with details of World Vision’s bank account for transfers.

‘We are trying to encourage and promote the tradition of practicing
good will towards children who need it most. There are so many children
that need help, and events like this allow more to be assisted than
would otherwise be possible’, explains World Vision representative
Marina Hovhannisyan.

Often in Armenia children with special needs, especially with
visible facial and orthopedic disorders, suffer discrimination and
harassment. Many of them end up in special institutions deprived of
parental care. They have no future and no hope.

‘To assist such children, World Vision started its project in 2002
with funding from the UK and Germany, providing essential surgery
to nine children with severe facial disfiguration and orthopedic
disorders. Several other children received surgery with funds raised
through performances played at the National Puppet Theatre and
the National Academic Theatre. After the surgery and post-surgical
treatment these children were able to attend public school and live
a healthy life.

World Vision plans to continue initiation of such fundraising actions,
which will create financial means for continuing to provide surgery
to children, and at the same time, will promote public awareness and
participation in helping children with special needs.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress