GRANTS PROGRAMS 01 June 2003 - 31 January 2004. Funded by World Learning Armenia. Project Title: “Establishment of Integration Educational Center for Children with Mental Disabilities and Implementation of Activities Contributing to their Integration into the Society”. An Integration Center for children with mental disabilities was established within the framework of this program. Knitting and embroidery classes functioned in the Center. Seminars were organized for their parents, as well as ? video clip about a mentally retarded child outside his home was shown on TV. 01 September 2003 - 15 December 2003. A six NGO coalition “Manifesto: Right to Decide” program was funded by the Open Society Institute - Budapest. It was basically a campaign aimed at the rights of people with mental disabilities. Seminars and round tables were organized within the framework of this program. A video clip (download clip 6.5Mb) about a mentally retarded child was shot and shown on TV. A booklet titled “People with Mental Disabilities: Myths and Reality” and a poster titled “Get to Know Me. We May Become Friends” were published. An exhibition of works made by children with mental disabilities was conducted. 01 August 2004 - 31March 2005. Funded by NGOC. Project Title: “Training for Children With Physical And Mental Disabilities and Provision of Socio-Psychological Service”. Within the framework of this program, new integration classes were created for mentally retarded children, namely: elementary teaching, rice-making, pottery, computer literacy for children with physical disabilities and non-disabled children. Seminars were organized for senior pupils, teachers and parents; psychological service was rendered to both disabled and non-disabled children, as well as to family members. Two video clips about the attitudes towards mentally retarded children and the role of a psychologist in a family were shot and broadcast on TV. 01 May - 30 November 2005. “Establishment of Integration Classes for Children With Mental Disabilities and Implementation of Activities Contributing to Their Integration into the Society” Program was funded by World Bank and the Armenian Branch of Open Society Institute. Within the framework of this program, handicraft integration classes attended by both non-disable children and those with physical disabilities were organized. Seminars were conducted for parents of non-disabled children, students of schools and universities. A video clip representing the society’s indifferent attitude towards a mentally retarded child was shot and broadcast on TV. “Education Does Not Tolerate Discrimination” An event titled “Education Does Not Tolerate Discrimination” and dedicated to protection of children’s rights was organized on June 10, 2005 by the “Towards Education for All” NGO coalition in the park adjacent to “Aragast” cafe. 4 of the 9 NGOs - members of the Coalition, namely “Kamk ev Korov”, “Havat” NGO of Hard-of-Hearing Children’s Mothers, “Prkutyun” Center of Disabled Children and “Tsir Katin” NGO participated in this event. NGO beneficiaries and disabled children’s parents, representatives of the RA National Assembly, state agencies, communities, and international organizations, as well as mass media attended the event. Gifted disabled children from NGOs participating in the activity had performances. Children registered in “Prkutyun” NGO represented their handicraft at the exhibition. The administration of “Aragast” cafe owned by the Nushikyan Association organized a reception for the participants.