Three representatives from Armenia’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs met with FAR staff at our Yerevan office on March 3. Lena Hayrapetyan, head of the Department of Family, Women and Children’s issues, along with Chief Specialist Arpine Hakobyan and First Category Specialist Kristine Hovhannisyan, both from the Department of Handicapped and the Elderly, spoke about current social issues.
Issues discussed included housing of older orphans who transition out of their respective institutions, the importance of having more support centers for the elderly and troubled children, providing greater opportunities for employment for the disabled, and how NGOs like FAR can better bridge the gap between services.