$34,812
goal
115
beneficiary
Shirak
region
remaining days
Project Goal
To fund one year of physiotherapy and occupational therapy for children with special needs in Gyumri.
Project Background
Emili Aregak Center offers free therapy programs to children with special needs in Gyumri, made possible entirely through donor support.
Disability still carries heavy stigma in Armenia — children are often made to feel less-than, mothers are blamed for their kids' challenges, and families are left isolated, anxious, and unsupported. Emili Aregak pushes back against that narrative. Here, kids work with skilled, encouraging specialists who help them uncover abilities they didn't know they had — and parents start to see their children differently too.
Physical therapy builds strength, mobility, and coordination. Occupational therapy builds the everyday skills kids need for independence, from fine motor control to self-care. Together with speech, art, and music therapy, and support from three psychologists, these programs give children a real path forward.
Ayo! is proud to fund one year of physical therapy and one year of occupational therapy for the kids Emili Aregak serves.
The center is run by Caritas Aregak Foundation, which works more broadly to advance disability inclusion in Armenia. The foundation also runs Aregak Bakery — the country's only cafe training and employing young adults with special needs and their families — and is launching Green Aregak, a social business empowering young people with disabilities to work in agriculture growing tomatoes.
Davit Yepremyan
Health For Armenia Team
Yuliya Petrosyan
Nara Tashchyan
LILIT BABAYAN
Artyom Yepremyan
Seyed Ardalan Hosseini
Anna Kishinevskaya
Martiross Sedrakyan
Sona Sahakyan
Zaven Babayan
Arsen Matikyan
Anush Ter-Khachatryan
Gor Gasparyan
Artur Babayan
Razmik Sargsyan
Sylvia
Linda Fanaras Sampadian
Ilona Artazyan
Duon Zeroun
Armen Sargsyan
Mary Bauch
Anna Zhamakochyan
Laura Vuchase
Khatchig Mouradian
Susan Hallman
Venera Vardanyan
Jeffrey Sainsbury
Alina Atayan
Christine Osasu
Stephani Obenauf
Myron D. & Nori K. Mikaelian
William & Kay Bedoian
Joy Volkan
Inessa Petrosyan
Laurenz Eigner
Emelia Jones
Nathalie Halajian
Alek Krikorian
Matthew Hoffman
Philip Kanayan
Emil Makarian
Serien Keleshian
Jaclyn LeBlanc
Susan England
Araz Arslanian
Kate Smith
Armineh Babikian
Sharistan Melkonian
Sirahn Toufayan
Ian Smith
Haig Pakhchanian
Paul Keurian
Anne Smith
Armine Utas
Brady Murray
Robert Fonte
Julia DeCelles-Zwerneman
Andrea Murray
Melisa Ghersi
Amanda Ellard
Garin Okan
John Bogosian
Lauren Smith
Hayk Ter-Matevosyan
Liana Coskrey
Kelly Ipjian
Hayk Mnatsakanian
Kenny Alperin
Lori Keverian
Cara Haleblian
Marina Babayan
Herman Hintiryan
David & Kathryn Freestone
Tatevik Sekhposyan
Vahik & Alice Petrossian
Robert & Donna Stites
Nune Yeritsyan
Haykuhi Sekhposyan
Larry & Lynn Hayalian
Emil Darbinian
Armenui Agadzhanyan
Koruin Vartevan
Arden Karian
Lilit Postoyan
Shaunt Attarian
Madeline Zilelian
Donald &. Corinne Deurdulian Eknoyan
Carl Haroian
Lara Varjabedian
Kirk Hourdajian
Lisa Beth Bazarian Gardner
Jonathan Campbell
Lori Dorian
Liza Dorian
Myles Couyoumjian
James N. Proctor
Edward S. Mardigian
Vahan Mahdasian
Rebekah Stites
Susannah Jackson
Marilyn Cole
Avak Grigorian
Armen Terjimanian
Tamar Kefeyan
Jane DuMond
Ara Bagdasarian
Ari Terjanian
David Smith
Jacques Gurdjian
Christianne Goodwin
Boghos Gauro
Daniel Gainor
Kristine T. Casali
George Bedrosian
Deborah Baseley
Johny Assalian
Anna Vardanyan
Sarah Stites
Jennifer Morris
Ara Hacet
Kathryn A A. Geyer
Supporters
122
Partner
Craitas Aregak Foundation
August 10, 2026
Created on:
