Anyone who wants to experience a "best practice" example of inclusion should visit the Emili Aregak center on the outskirts of Gyumri, the second largest city in Armenia. Children and young people with disabilities receive a wide range of therapies here, with physio, ergo, music and art therapy as well as speech therapy. But Emili Aregak does not only show us a comprehensive range of therapies. We have felt the warmth and hospitality that is radiated here in the center every day since our arrival.
How did the Emili Aregak Center come about?
People with disabilities are still disadvantaged in many countries, including Armenia. They live isolated and are not encouraged. Those affected and their families suffer as a result. But the "Emili Aregak" center - also known as "Emil's little sun" - is a project that shows that there is another way. With the construction and commissioning of Emili Aregak, a model project for children and young people with disabilities was created.
The center was built more than 10 years ago in cooperation with Caritas Armenia and Caritas Vorarlberg. Financial support from the Vorarlberg entrepreneur Emil Nachbauer made it possible to build a day care center for disabled children and young people. The center was named "Emil's Little Sun" in his honor. But many other Vorarlberg companies also provide active support with equipment, materials and work. Architect Richard Nikolussi (ⴕ 2015) planned the project, resulting in a barrier-free facility with several therapy rooms, a central dining room, a separate kitchen, barrier-free sanitary facilities, offices and a photovoltaic system. The center is like an oasis amidst the old buildings from the Soviet Union times and the surrounding ruins, reminiscent of the 1988 earthquake.
And the name Emili Aregak is well known in Gyumri. Not only once on our long walks through the city did we look for the quickest way back by public transport. When we asked which bus leads to the Emili Aregak Center, every local was able to help out immediately.
A day at the Emili Aregak Center
The first children and young people arrive in the morning and receive therapies tailored to their needs. In addition, a breakfast is offered. In the early afternoon, children from the surrounding schools are brought to the center by the in-house shuttle bus. After lunch, further therapy sessions are offered to the children. But the center is more than just a care facility for children and young people. It offers parents of children with disabilities a possible job. It is often hard for them to find work.
The in-house playground also invites children from the area to play. This creates a coexist-ence between children with and without disabilities. Volunteers from Gyumri also help actively and lovingly to support the children.
You can already feel the fun and joy of life of the employees at the entrance. The happy laughter of the children and the light-heartedness with which they move here spread a spark of security and safety.
Overnight at Emili Aregak Center
On the premises of the Emili Aregak Center, 2 wooden bungalows are available to visitors for overnight stays. These offer space for 2 and 4 people and are equipped with a bathroom, bedrooms and WiFi. A cozy patio area and a fireplace invite you to a barbecue evening together. From here you can also enjoy an excellent view of the highest mountain in Armenia, Mount Aragats. From the Emili Aregak Center you can take the minibus lines 20 and 22 directly to the city center in a short time.
Feasting at the highest level at Aregak Bakery
In 2018 the Aregak Bakery opened its doors. This bakery and confectionery allows people with disabilities to participate in the world of work. The Aregak Bakery is a branch of the Emili Aregak Center and is located in the center of Gyumri city. Mothers of young people with disabilities have found work here, as have young adults with disabilities.
Today, the project contributes to the inclusion of people with disabilities and opens the worldview of the Armenian population to this sensitive issue. And quite honestly - the Aregak bakery is no longer an insider tip. So far we have only fully experienced the small café in the middle of Gyumri.
With the opening of the Aregak Bakery, the training program "9 steps to the labor market" was launched. This supports young people in their integration into the labor market, including in the professional fields of gastronomy, agriculture and, for example, photography. Cooperation with companies, universities and organizations means that young people with special needs are trained and thus find a job.
How we experience the Emili Aregak project
We are excited about the scale of the Emili Aregak project and the opportunities it offers people with disabilities and their families. The project has continued to grow over the years and plans for the future still include many exciting concepts. An expansion of the seating offer in the outdoor area of the Aregak Bakery and an expansion of the overnight stay offer are planned. Work is also underway on a greenhouse and a new playground.
Many employees know the Emili Aregak Center from their childhood days. They have already spent their free time there and witnessed the construction and commissioning. Everyone knows each other. And for us, too, it's now as if we were part of this big family.
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