In Armenia, mobilizing for the disabled

Groups help individuals be active contributors to all facets of society

(Gustavo Payan photo)
The landscape on the road from Yerevan to Stepanavan.

Gustavo Payan, a resident of Somerville, is an International Program Coordinator for Education Development Center, Inc., (EDC), a Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization with projects addressing education, health, and economic development in 35 countries. One initiative, the Social Legacy Program, is working to improve life for people with disabilities in Armenia.

By Gustavo Payan

June 23

YEREVAN, Armenia -- On Thursday afternoon, Bagrat Harutyunyan and I jumped into the car that would take us from Yerevan -- Armenia’s capital -- to Stepanavan, a city about 150 kilometers north, for a meeting with various local non-governmental organizations working in the field of disabilities. At the meeting, we would get to know them, present our initiative -- which aims to support existing efforts to build a national coalition of NGOs working in the field of disabilities in Armenia -- and ask them to participate.

We arrived at Stepanavan after a two-plus hour ride through the hills and valleys of the Aragatsotn and Lori Regions -- two hours of a rich and intensive lesson on Armenia from Bagrat, our in-country coordinator and an assistant professor at Yerevan State University, and from Gurgen, our driver, who shared with me their views and knowledge of Armenian history and culture as well as some delicious apricots.

The meeting was held at a local NGO, Liarzhek Kyank (translated into English as “Full Life”), and was attended by four additional organizations. Liarzhek Kyank was founded in 1998 and has been managed since then by Suren Maghakyan. Suren, who uses a wheelchair, would be described by most as ‘disabled.’ But Suren -- as well as many of the leaders of the disabilities movement in Armenia -- has proven that "disabled" people can be active contributors to the economic, social, and political life of society as well as role models and sources of inspiration for others -- "disabled" or not.

After the meeting, Bagrat and Gurgen took a different road back to Yerevan to show me other parts of Armenia. We drove by villages and picturesque landscapes until we arrived at a small khorovat (Armenian barbeque) restaurant by the Sevan Lake for dinner. Fish, pork, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, herbs, salads, and lavash (thin flat Armenian bread) were all part of the culinary repertoire. After a nice cup of strong soorch (coffee) as the wind was blowing cool by the lake, we ended with a quick visit to Sevanavank (the Monastery of Sevan), which displays a plaque on the wall recognizing the support of the Armenian Library and Museum of America in Watertown, MA -- which I drive past every day to go to work.

Like most everyone, my job poses the usual challenges and difficulties. But the rewards and the experience that come from it make it an amazing and continuous learning adventure on how every one of us can improve people’s living conditions anywhere and at any time. In addition to the groups from Stepanavan and Vanadzor, I’ve met here with organizations from Gyumri and Yerevan and have seen how people can be empowered, both to feel they can contribute to society and to help others to do the same.

During my short time in this country, I have not only heard how NGOs -- big and small -- are making a difference for people with special needs in Armenia, I have witnessed it first-hand. A national annual sports event for people with disabilities organized by a local NGO was held a couple of days ago in the streets of the city and other venues; I listened to The Paros Chamber Choir (a wheelchair choir) at their street performance as part of a music festival; and I have seen the crafts and paintings created by many children who face disability challenges … just to name a few examples of how "disabled people" are being empowered by their own communities in this country.

(Gustavo Payan photo)
The Paros Chamber Choir

Armenia has a lot to offer -- history, culture, cuisine, sightseeing -- but the most remarkable thing that I will take with me from here is the passion and courage of its people.

To learn more about EDC and its more than 300 projects to improve education, health, and economic development across the country and around the world, visit www.edc.org. For information on how you can contribute to the Passport blog, please contact the Globe's assistant foreign editor, Kenneth Kaplan, at K_Kaplan@globe.com.