$28,317
goal
116
beneficiary
Shirak
region
remaining days
Project Goal
To fund 1.5 years of psychological support for families of children with special needs at Emili Aregak Center.
Project Background
Emili Aregak Center provides therapy programs for children with a range of special needs free of charge thanks to donor support. The center is located in Gyumri and is celebrating its 10th year of operation in 2025!
Unfortunately, there is still a lot of stigma around the topic of disability in Armenia. People with different special needs are often made to feel less-than, and parents (especially mothers) are often blamed for their children’s challenges. Isolation, depression and anxiety are common feelings in families affected by disability.
In the middle of this reality, Emili Aregak exists to not only challenge the status quo and walk alongside families, but to flip the narrative on its head — that people with disabilities actually have dignity in our society and abilities that are waiting to be uncovered and cultivated. Emili Aregak is where potential blossoms alongside encouraging and professional specialists. And Emili Aregak is also where parents start to see their children in a new light!
In addition to physical and occupational therapies, speech therapy and art and music therapy, the kids (and their parents) also have access to three amazing psychologists. We all know how important it is to have someone to speak with, to give us the tools to cope, and even to see our situations through a different lens.
In honor of Emili Aregak’s 10th birthday, Ayo! is proud to help fund 1.5 years of psychological support for the families it serves.
Emili Aregak is run by Caritas Aregak Foundation, which has the broader goal of changing the status quo around the topics of inclusion of people with disabilities in Armenia. In addition to its therapy center, the foundation runs Aregak Bakery, Armenia’s only cafe to provide training and employment opportunities to young adults with special needs and also their family members. In 2025, the foundation will also open its second social business — Green Aregak — which empowers young people with disabilities to work in the green agricultural space and cultivate tomatoes!
Anna Petrosian
Edwin Portugal
Anna Sargsyan
Chris Arguoyan
Robert & Donna Stites
Nune Yeritsyan
Shushanik Tovmasyan
Krikor Dzeronian
Haykuhi Sekhposyan
Katrina Shakarian
Davit Mirzoyan
Todd Fabacher
Nadia Ramos
Mikayel Baghoyan
Lilit Hovhannisyan
Gohar Atayan
Chuck Begian
Francine Kaiser
Nyree Abrahamian
Rajni Avagyan
Tamara Chalumyan
Nelli Gevorgyan
Liana Avetisyan
Seda Papoyan
Diane Kupelian
Jolanta Siewiec
Betty Hoffmeister
Brandon Taylor
Jordan Lousararian
Alex Andrikian
Zachary Arriaga
Shahan Kasnakian
Marie Young-West
Rick Lousararian
Lori Hakola
Cam Reed
Ani Karabashian
Aaron Wirekoon
Carole Karabashian
Lori Berberian
Vivian Lousararian
Gabriel Burdeen
Riley Kinser
Joan Laufenberg
Dana Laufenberg
Setrak & Carol Attarian
Emil Darbinian
Nareen Bagdasarian
Rebecca Berberian
Alik Yepremian
Aram Vartivarian
Nazan Titizian
Alique Berberian
Arman & Maria Bedonian
Marat Oganyesyan
Joseph Piranian
Soorp Haroutiun Armenian Church
Armenui Agadzhanyan
Gegham Serobyan
Pedro Zarokian
Sarah Simsarian
Zaven Kalayjian
Koruin Vartevan
Avedis Kalayjian
St. John's Armenian Church
Gregory Z. Mavian
Andy Dovel
Sara Fares
Nathaniel P
Leslie Movsesian
Gregory Abrahamian
David Ojakian
Garen Vartanian
Zaven Kouroghlian
Victoria Mnatsakanyan
Peter Barsamian
Max Cherry
Samuel Vahanian
David Arutyunyan
Veronica Malian
Vicky Bozikian
Kev J
Lorig Hamparian
Sofia Donikyan
Narega Sayfian
Jonathan Duke
Roseanne McErlain
Karina Arzuyan
Salpi Aram
Lisa Helstein
Hasmik Sargsyan
Knar Rita Guokdjian
Leila Accad
Alexandre Aubard
Sophia Badalian
Chester Bedell
Ines Donfack
Tariq Habash
Brian Rose
Aristides Hadjipanteli
Danielle Jar
Talene Jermakian
Zara Ratevosjan
Jackie Badalian
Peter Boyajian
Charlotte Cummins
Kathie Donaldson
Talin Kartun
Christina Keyser
Rithvik Kondai
Summer Lewis
Alik Manoogian
Leigha Schjelderup
James Wartman
Christine Abrell
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Nora Derian
Margaret Evered
Anoushian Family
Joey Friess
Grace Hachigian
Sara Hatfield
Taylor Hodge
Olivia Jerjian
Dean Jigarjian
Teddy Kamody
Mariam Karapetyan
Aline Keledjian
Linette Kingston
Ashlyn Liverman
Maria Martirosyan
Victoria Melkonyan
Juliet Michaelsen
Anna Minasyan
Yeva Mkhoyan
Alis Nahapetyan
Rebecca Ohanes
Georges Ohanessian
Philip Rizk
Joe Soave
Eileen Trayan
Edward Wong
Karina Arzuyan
Alex Ateshian
Mano B.
Mhair Dekmezian
Shaunt Attarian
Madeline Zilelian
Aida Poghosyan
Andy Kouyoumjian
Shahen A.
Tatevik Kamalyan
Arevik Tutkhalyan
Neinel Zani
A A
Christina Yessaian
Gevorg Asatyan
Christine Sow
Serena Hajjar
Hajk Bagradjans
Saro Yesayan
Patrick Elliott
St Leon Armenian Church Sunday School
Crystal Ritchie
Noah Garabedian
Gary Hovsepian
Sarkis Karabashian
Laura Boyajian
Lisa Iskikian
Lisa Beth Bazarian Gardner
Seth & Tina Bilazarian
Dawn Aginian
Sargis Meliksetyan
Nancy Kolligian
Haike Engoyan
Sara J. Martinian
Mardig Klachian
Christopher Guzelian
Vera Nazarian
Robert H. Davidian
Vahan Mahdasian
Chris Boyajian
Anais Astarjian
Marilyn Cole
Karnig Ekizian
Christine Matoian
Sona Koshetsyan
St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian Church
Ezras Tellalian
Romany Shaker
Sona Baghdasaryan
Cynthia Maghakian
St. Leon Armenian Church - Armenian Sunday School
Meline Toufayan
Jane DuMond
Ara Bagdasarian
Ari Terjanian
Zach Kowalski
Armine Khrimian
Kristina Khachaturyan
Christianne Goodwin
Boghos Gauro
Bree Carriglio
Deborah Baseley
Johny Assalian
Arakel Aljalian
Aram Adourian
Anna Vardanyan
Sarah Stites
Herman Purutyan
David Onanian
Yeprem Kelegian
Vartan V. Joulfayan
Ara Hacet
Kathryn A A. Geyer
Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs
Supporters
214
Partner
February 6, 2025
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