2009 Galleries

Playground in Armavir : On January 10, 2009 immediately after New Year’s holidays a playground was opened near the children club in Armavir, which was opened in October of last year. Despite the cold weather a lot of children were present during the opening, they were eager to play in a well equipped playground and afterwards parent literally could not take them back home. Playground is a real happiness for any child, nothing can be more fascinating for children than playing together with happy smiles. The life in communities of Armavir region is very difficult, leaving standards are low; there are no entertaining centers for children. Mission East is reconstructing community centers for children, where both disabled and able-bodied children can spend their day together. A playground will bring more joy to the children, who sometimes have to go to the fields with their parents or walk around the streets the whole day. Parents of disabled and socially vulnerable children gradually understand that their children have equal opportunities, their inclusion into the society can be more easily when there is communication and they will be more inspired to bring their children to the community centers and playgrounds.

Playground in Armavir

On January 10, 2009 immediately after New Year’s holidays a playgrou ...

Updated: Jan 15, 2009 4:45am PST

Children club and playground opening in Hatsik : In the frames of "A Healthy Start" project the last children club was opened in Hatsik community of Armavir region in March, 2009. Now the long expected children club will be opened the whole day for disabled, able bodied and socially vulnerable children. They can enjoy not only the club itself but also newly installed colorful playground.

Children club and playground opening in Hatsik

In the frames of "A Healthy Start" project the last children club was ...

Updated: Apr 20, 2009 8:55pm PST

One who will get an operation and another who probably won't, but should : On a cold day earlier this year, I travelled to the remote village of Karmir Gyugh (literally: ‘Red village’) in the mountainous region of Gegharkunik in northern Armenia, with many of the villages situated at 2,000 meters above sea level. The village has 6,000 inhabitants, and a large proportion of children that have been hidden in their homes and had never been given the correct diagnosis or follow up care needed to change their lives. With me on this trip was Sona Orbelyan, herself a medical doctor and project co-ordinator on Mission East's 'Healthy Start' project. I also had the privilege of having two of my sons, Philip (12 years) and Peter Vincent (8 years) join me on this trip. Following home visits by Mission East staff and a paediatrician of Mission East partner Arabkir Medical Center for basic screening , the children are selected for further check up by a team of specialist paediatricians from our partner, after which they are usually referred to either short term medical treatment (operation or otherwise), or long term rehabilitation and follow up. Two of the children we saw that day represented two ends of the spectre of hope - one who will get an operation, and another who probably won't, but should. What we saw that day made a lasting impression on our lives! Kim Hartzner, M.D., Managing Director

One who will get an operation and another who probably won't, but should

On a cold day earlier this year, I travelled to the remote village of ...

Updated: Apr 17, 2009 1:46pm PST

En, der vil blive opereret og en anden, der formentlig ikke bliver opereret, men trænger til en operation : På en kold dag tidligere i år rejste jeg til den fjerne landsby Karmir Gyugh (direkte oversat: ‘Røde landsby’) i den bjergrige region Gegharkunik i det nordlige Armenien. Mange af landsbyerne ligger i 2.000 meters højde. Der bor 6.000 mennesker i landsbyen, som også har en meget stor andel af børn, der er blevet holdt skjult i hjemmene, og som aldrig er blevet givet en korrekt diagnose eller opfølgende behandling. Med mig på rejsen var også Sona Orbelyan, der selv er læge og projektkoordinator for Mission Østs projekt ’En sund start’. Jeg havde også det privilegium, at to af mine sønner var med på rejsen, Philip på 12 og Peter Vincent på 8 år. Når børnene er blevet besøgt i hjemmene af medarbejdere fra Mission Øst og en børnelæge fra vores partner Arabkir Medical Center for en basal screening, bliver børnene i reglen henvist til yderligere undersøgelser af et team af børnelæger fra vores partner, hvorefter de enten henvises til behandling inden for en kort tidshorisont (operation eller andet) eller til længevarende opfølgning og genoptræning. To af de børn, vi besøgte den dag, repræsenterer to ender af håbets spektrum – en, der vil blive opereret, og en anden, som formentlig ikke bliver opereret, men i høj grad har brug for en operation. Hvad vi så den dag efterlod et blivende indtryk hos os! Kim Hartzner, læge, generalsekretær

En, der vil blive opereret og en anden, der formentlig ikke bliver opereret, men trænger til en operation

På en kold dag tidligere i år rejste jeg til den fjerne landsby Karm ...

Updated: Apr 17, 2009 2:48pm PST

The opening of Child Development and Rehabilitation Center in Ijevan : One of the major milestones of the project “A Healthy Start” was achieved on 11 April, 2009 - Child Development and Rehabilitation Center (CDRC) was opened in Ijevan, Tavush region. This is already the second center opening in Armenia, in the frames of the “A Healthy Start” project. The first one was opened in Armavir region in 2007 and successfully works and rehabilitates children. CDRC in Ijevan will give opportunity to the children to get rehabilitation and treatment without traveling to Yerevan. This is very important for the families of children with special needs, as such children mostly live in socially vulnerable families, who can not often afford themselves such journey to the capital. A number of official guests were invited to the opening ceremony; among them were Deputy Prime minister, Minister of Health, Governor of Tavush region and other officials. The event was broadly covered by almost all national TV channels.

The opening of Child Development and Rehabilitation Center in Ijevan

One of the major milestones of the project “A Healthy Start” was a ...

Updated: Apr 22, 2009 11:04pm PST

First children centers opened in Gegharkunik region : Within the second phase of “A Healthy Start” project in one of the project regions Gegarkunik, Mission East cooperates with two local NGOs – Arevshat and Bari Hyus. These are newly established organizations, which were selected by ME to carry out the project. Mission East and its partner local NGOs are working closely with community leaders to establish Mainstream Family and Child Centers (MFCC) in 10 communities. The Mainstream Family and Child Centers will be the first step towards the integration of disabled children into society. On June 18, 2009 the first three centers were opened by Arevshat Foundation in Ganzdzak, Sarukhan, and Karmirghyugh communities. Being newly established organization Arevshat has professional staff consisting of social worker, psychologist and teachers. The reconstruction of the centers is the first significant achievement for the organization. Mission East’s Country Director Raffi Doudaklian and “A Healthy Start” project team participated in the event together with partner organizations, heads of the communities, a number of guests and local mass media representatives. The children welcomed the guests with bread and salt, dances and songs.

First children centers opened in Gegharkunik region

Within the second phase of “A Healthy Start” project in one of the ...

Updated: Jun 23, 2009 11:18pm PST

“A Healthy Start” in Gegharkunik Region : “A Healthy Start” project continues its activities in Gegharkunik region by opening Mainstream Family and Child Centers (MFCC) in cooperation with two local partners – Bari Huys NGO and Arevshat Foundation. Bari Huys (which means "Good Hope") was established in 2008, and in spite of the short period of existence it is already recognized by the population of the communities for its active work. This time thanks to good work of Bari Huys NGO, the MFCCs were opened in Lchap, Tsovazard and Tsakhkashen communities. One of the communities - Tsakhkashen is situated on 2200 meters above the see level, near the hillsides of Geghama mountain range, where even at summer time snow does not melt. The children of these communities were pleasantly surprised on July 01, 2009 seeing renovated and well equipped room in their community meant for them. The MFCCs are established to be a place where both disabled and able-bodied children can play and communicate with each other, and where parents can gather and get the advice they need to help them in their situation. Because of the shame associated with having a disabled child, many of the disabled children have been hidden in their homes for years without having chance to communicate with their peers. Now, hopefully with establishment of MFCCs the situation in the communities will be changed.

“A Healthy Start” in Gegharkunik Region

“A Healthy Start” project continues its activities in Gegharkunik ...

Updated: Jul 20, 2009 1:23am PST

Mission East is a Danish international relief and development organisation, working in Eastern Europe and Asia. Our aim is to deliver relief aid, to create and support long-term development projects and to empower local aid organisations to carry on the work independently. Making no racial, religious or political distinction between those in need, we aim to assist the most vulnerable.