On May 13, the World Bank representative, the project manager of “Strengthening the Livelihoods and Voice of the Poor and Vulnerable Persons in Armenia” grant project Marina Petrovic, who is in Armenia on a current visit, together with World Bank representative Satik Nairyan, who is in charge of “Strengthening the Livelihoods and Voice of the Poor and Vulnerable Persons in Armenia” project, project coordinator of Armenian office of Japan International Cooperation Agency Ruzanna Khojikyan and “Mission Armenia” representative, project coordinator Sophie Nersisyan had a meeting in Yerevan with the participants of the training courses held within the framework of the project.

The project is implemented by “Mission Armenia” NGO with the support of the World Bank and the Government of Armenia and is financed by Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF).

The visitors made their first stop at “Metal doors and windows, entrance doors and furniture production” course carried out in the framework of on-the-job trainings sub-component and delivered by “Zorik Avetisyan” sole proprietor.

Four beneficiaries participate in on-the-job trainings’ sub-component of the Project. At the successful completion of the course, the participants will be qualified as specialists in production of furniture, metal-plastic doors and windows, metal front doors and interior doors.

“I was selected as a war participant and as a person with disability. It’s a good profession, which can give me an opportunity to find a job in the future. These courses make us multi-profile specialists,” said one of project beneficiaries Artur Gabrielyan.

The Project representatives also visited the participants of “Sewing” course carried out within the same subcomponent. The course is carried out by “Marie Chakryan” sole proprietor. Upon successful completion of the course, two beneficiaries of the course will receive a professional qualification of a tailor.

The third stop was at “Mission Armenia’s” Avan-Arinj Disability Resource Center  The center delivers course within business management skills sub-component and under the 3rd Copmonent of the project advocacy training on the protection of beneficiaries’ rights to solve wide range of challenges...  

“We support the implementation of those projects that we finance and we implement twice a year. During each our mission to Armenia we make such visits to see how our projects are going. I am very happy to see the works already implemented and those underway, and I would like to express my gratitude to “Mission Armenia” NGO for the efforts it put into the implementation of this project. Yes, perhaps it’s not easy to find jobs for those people today, but I am happy to see that some employers are really interested in cooperating with us,” said Marina Petrovic.

“We have carried out extensive explanatory work with the employers and managed to persuade them into giving resources to the disabled and employ them in the future for at least three months,” said World Bank representative Satik Nairyan, who is in charge of “Strengthening the Livelihoods and Voice of the Poor and Vulnerable Persons in Armenia” project.

“Mission Armenia” representative, project coordinator Sophie Nersisyan noted that it’s the first time they deliver vocational training courses for people with disabilities.

“The project is comprised of three components. The first is the organization of vocational trainings in colleges, workplaces and “Mission Armenia’s” resource centers. We organize  vocationaltrainings on competitive specialisations for 800 project beneficiaries, as well as on-the-job trainings by employers with a further possibility of employment. The second omponent of the project intends to meet the vital and multi-sided social-healthcare needs of poor and vulnerable people through social-healthcare and food services.

Within the framework of the third component, we are going to adjust 12 public buildings to people with disabilities, establish inclusive environment at 12 Disability Resource Centers, which will promote their unrestricted mobility. This sub-component also trains people with disability and extremely poor people to advocate for themselves and for others. raises their awareness and help them protect their own interests and rights,” informed Sophie Nersisyan.

Worth noting that “Strengthening the Livelihoods and Voice of the Poor and Vulnerable Persons in Armenia” grant project was launched  in 2013. The project aims to provide sustainable livelihood and employment opportunities as well as vitally important social and healthcare services for the disabled and poor people in Yerevan and five regions in Armenia (Kotayk, Ararat, Lori, Gegharkunik and Shirak).