The program Psycho-Social support to children and lonely refugee elderly restarted in February. The program aims at social integration and improvement of the living conditions of the lonely refugee elderly and children.
There are 80 children (aged 7-14), 120 lonely elderly people and 34 volunteers involved in the program. The program includes three dormitories (4/10, 10/1 Artsakh str., 2a/7 Shirak str., 29/1 Moldovakan str., Yerevan city and 1 Hatis str., Abovyan city).
The program has two main directions. The first direction is the psycho-social support to lonely refugee elderly. In the framework of this program volunteers visit the beneficiaries once a month, help them with housework, and organize social /cultural events. Once a month hygienic kits, and once every three months food parcels are distributed to the elderly people. The program also partially covers electricity costs.
The second direction of the program is the work with children living in dormitories. In the framework of this program volunteers organize various lesson sessions for children who live in dormitories. The Classes take place in rooms that have specially been allocated to the “Smiley Club” program of the ARCS. Volunteers help the children with their homework, organize visits to cultural places, watch films and have discussions on interesting topics. During summer a camp for children who are most in need is organized.
Currently the program is funded by «Medicor» foundation in cooperation with Austrian Red Cross.
Although the program had several financial gaps in the last 5 years, our volunteers never stopped their visits, which are proof of commitment, demonstration of humanitarian values and long-lasting tight connection between younger and old generations.
