$48,000 pledged for starting construction of center for handicapped

Armen Press
July 12 2004

$48,000 PLEDGED FOR STARTING CONSTRUCTION OF CENTER FOR HANDICAPPED

YEREVAN, JULY 12, ARMENPRESS: Levon Nersisian, the chairman of
Astghik (Starlet) union of handicapped people, told Armenpress that
nine international and local organizations pledged $42,000 in
donations for starting the construction of a rehabilitation center on
2 hectares of land in a Yerevan Nor Nork community, allocated to it
by a government decision. Nersisian said his union has developed a
program called Hope Shelter, which conforms all internationally
accepted standards of handicapped people care, which he said costs $6
million.
He said the Union hopes that the construction of the
rehabilitation center will be finished in 2008 and its full operation
will require another four years.
The program supposes a unique approach towards meeting the needs
of handicapped people. Around 60 disabled children are supposed to be
serviced by a 148-member staff. The center will also take care of
local old people and foreign old-age tourists.
From: Baghdasarian