Viva-MTS. Four displaced families from Artsakh became beneficiaries of the "Individual Helper" program. Photos:
The Zeinalyans' daily routine and living agenda changed months after the birth of their first child, Davit. The baby was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Parents noticed developmental problems in the child through comparison with peers. The issue of David's rehabilitative treatment has become paramount and enduring. The "Individual Assistant" program of Viva-MTS and "SORS" foundation has become an important support for the family displaced from Artsakh to Kapan city of Syunik marz. The worries of young parents have been partially alleviated. After the birth of their second child, a daughter, they started thinking about solving the delayed problems and having a new house.
For Viva-MTS and the "SORS" Foundation, not only the effective course of the program is important, but also its continuous impact, in particular, the maintenance of the child's stable behavior, the further dynamics of socialization, the readiness of cooperation in the individual assistant-family circle, etc. This family has those prerequisites. Four-year-old David's personal assistant, Alvard Mirzoyan, is a physiotherapist. He knows the child from the treatment courses he attended at the rehabilitation center in Kapan. Now she is engaged in David's socialization, at the same time she helps her mother so that she has free time to take care of her newborn daughter.
"David was ten months old when we noticed that he was not sitting up. Wasn't as mobile as his peers. A neurologist diagnosed cerebral palsy. The "Personal Assistant" program is very important for both David and me. David has become more patient. I can say the same about myself. my nerves are calmer, I know that David has a good personal assistant. I am already fully engaged in raising my second child. If there are mothers out there who have faced the same problem, don't despair. I myself believe that David will definitely walk," says his mother, Araks Harutyunyan.
The schedule of the young hostess is quite busy. Arax attended courses and improved his hairdressing skills. She is calmer about raising her daughter, trying to encourage her husband to turn a half-built building into a home.
As a result of cooperation between Viva-MTS and "SORS" foundation, the "Personal Assistant" program has been implemented for children with disabilities for 8 years. Involved in each family for 4 months, experienced, trained personal assistants provide 60 hours of childcare, employment and skills development per month.
Over the past three years, the Personal Assistant program has expanded its geography to include all marzes. 4 families displaced from Artsakh were also included in the last program.
