[FAR Children’s Center]: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and Libbi Heffern visit FAR Children’s Center.

  • March 9, 2012 12:52 pm

By Manane Petrosyan

Last Friday, the FAR Children’s Center hosted visitors Libbi Heffern, wife of U.S. Ambassador John Heffern, and the President of FAR’s Board of Directors Archbishop Khajag Barsamian.

The Center’s children warmly welcomed Archbishop Barsamian and Mrs. Heffern with a delightful dance performance.

Afterwards, the guests took a short tour around the Center to learn more about the children and the services that the Center provides.

Later, Children’s Center Director Doctor Mira Antonyan gave a presentation about the Center’s programs and also showed a film about the Center’s beneficiaries. Deputy Country Director Margarita Piliposyan presented on FAR’s other program areas, which was followed by lively discussion.

(left to right) FAR Children’s Center Director Doctor Mira Antonyan,
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Libbi Heffern and
FAR Armenia Country Director Bagrat Sargsyan

The Center’s children perform for their guests.

Libbi Heffern, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian and other guests
view the Children’s Center Media Lab

Visitors also saw the children’s playroom

Credit: Margarita Ter-Hovhannisyan

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[FAR Children’s Center]: Circle of Friends Member Named Godfather to Center Children.

  • February 13, 2012 11:43 am

By Manane Petrosyan

Baptisms for the youth of the FAR Children’s Center have been held at St. John’s Church in Yerevan since the beginning of February. Four beneficiaries – Hovhannes Minasyan, 16, Matevos Poghosyan, 13, Eliza Badalyan, 14, and Aghasi Avagimyan, 16, – have been baptized thus far. These children, who receive help and services from the center, now also have another means of support. Arsen Grigoryan, a member of the Circle of Friends major donors group, has been named their godfather.

Each of these children grew up in extremely poor conditions and has come into conflict with the law. Center staff are trying to set them and their families on a better path.

“We are confident that these children will turn to Arsen for support and consultation as needed. He is a positive role model who is ready to support them so they can be rehabilitated and eventually become active participants in society,” said Center Director Dr. Mira Antonyan.

“I have been named a godfather several times in my life, but in this case it is different. It is also a great honor,” Arsen said.

Credit: Margarita Ter-Hovhannisyan

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[FAR Children’s Center]: Group Tries to Give Juvenile Delinquents a “Second Chance.”

  • January 26, 2012 12:55 pm

This week a group was launched at the FAR Children’s Center, which is aimed at dealing with juvenile delinquents. The group is a part of the Center’s Juvenile Justice in Armenia Program, which is funded by the EU and aims to encourage greater collaboration between the FAR Children’s Center and local law enforcement.

Juveniles from high-risk groups involved in the program are often victims of abuse and neglect, and have grown up in households with weak parental figures. Labeling these children as failures often results in their exclusion from society rather than an opportunity to assist in their rehabilitation. Our project aims to give them the “second chance” that they deserve.

Teamwork is one of the main methodologies applied at our rehabilitation center, which allows for comprehensive research, diagnostics and the selection of treatment. During our group work sessions, the participants of eight juveniles who have conflicted with the law got to know about a number of personal success stories, including the story of Facebook founder Mark Zukerberg. They also worked on outlining their aspirations for the future. With the assistance of the group work, the social skills of the group members may gradually improve and may help them resolves their conflicts. Participants seemed generally satisfied and excited about the opportunity to continue such meetings in the future.

Group Tries to Give Juvenile Delinquents a “Second Chance.”

Credit: Manane Petrosyan

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[FAR Children's Center]

  • January 25, 2012 4:46 am

Staff at the FAR Children’s Center were recently evaluated
by Executive Director Dr. Mira Antonyan for their
approaches and ethical practices. The evaluations are aimed
to help center staff refocus and ensure they are in accordance
as they carry out the center’s strategy and mission.

Credit: Manane Petrosyan

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[FAR Children’s Center]: Center Staff Aim to Set Simon on a New Path.

  • January 9, 2012 10:47 am

By Casey Kantarian

Simon Mashkaryan, 17, is the eldest of two children. Growing up in Yerevan, he never engaged in street violence or ran into conflict with the police. That changed six months ago when Simon became involved in a gang and later fought with its leader, stabbing the 21 year old in the stomach. It is situations like this that call the FAR Children’s Center Juvenile Justice Program to action. Currently, Simon is waiting to receive a sentence for his crime. He has also been referred to the Daycare Service at the FAR Children’s Center, where center specialists have begun to provide assistance to Simon through conflict resolution, psychological therapy, and social and legal support.

For example, the Juvenile Justice program team leader is working on resolving the conflict between Simon and the young man he stabbed by conducting dialogue sessions between them. Center staff are encouraging him to keep focused on a career path as well; they have helped Simon enroll in a hairdresser training program at a Yerevan vocational school. This, they believe, will give him much-needed structure and confidence. The team is also working on getting Simon to perform some volunteer community service.

They are also working with Simon’s family, specifically by assisting Simon’s grandfather – and the family’s main breadwinner – with finding work. His frustration about the family’s lack of adequate income seems to cause Simon’s grandfather to be belligerent and volatile at home. Through family meetings, the team is trying to help Simon reconnect with his family in a positive and healthy way.

Members of the FAR Children’s Center
Juvenile Justice Program Team are looking to help
seventeen-year-old Simon Mashkaryan rebuild his life.

Credit: Anna Hovhannisyan

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[FAR Children’s Center]: Center Helps Young Boy to Cope with Family Problems and Attend School.

  • December 21, 2011 10:24 am

By Casey Kantarian

Alex Bayroyan and his sister Kristine were brought to the FAR Children’s Center this past summer after running away from home. Originally from Georgia, the children and their mother moved to a suburb of Yerevan many years ago. Without the proper required papers like their birth certificates and passports, however, Alex, 14, and Kristine, 16, have been unable to attend school. With no one to reach out to for help, their mother ignored the problem and plunged further into alcoholism.

With their education put on hold and their home life unstable, the children tried to seek help from their aunt who took them in for a brief time. Once she realized that the children could not go back to their mother, she referred the children to the Center since she didn’t have the money to care for them properly herself.

After arriving at the Center, many emotional problems surfaced in Alex. Although he’s a bright young boy, he was cynical and aggressive toward others. Desperate for attention, he would often throw tantrums if he didn’t get what he wanted and exhibit erratic behavior. His self-esteem low, he also suffered from depression and anger. Over the course of many months progress has been made, however. Gradually, he has accepted that people want to help him and he’s come to terms with the fact that his mother has an alcohol problem. To help Alex, specialists are working with the whole family. In fact, the Center recently provided the mother with psychological support to help reunite the family through improved relationships. Recently, even she recognized her disease.

Working with the psychologist and teachers, Alex’s behavior has normalized. His necessary documents have been ordered and finally Alex and Kristina will be able to attend school in the near future.

After struggling with emotional problems, Alex, 14, has made
great progress working with FAR Children’s Center therapists.

Credit: Anna Hovhannisyan

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[FAR Children’s Center]: Daycare Rehabilitation Center Opens as Part of Juvenile Justice Program.

  • December 15, 2011 10:13 am

By Manane Petrosyan

On December 8th an official opening ceremony was held for the Daycare Rehabilitation Center in Abovyan, which is run by FAR’s Children’s Center. It was launched as part of the new Juvenile Justice in Armenia Program, which aims to encourage greater collaboration between the FAR Children’s Center and local law enforcement. The rehabilitation center seeks to support  children who are in conflict with the law, those who are registered in police detention facilities, children who are in conflict with their peers/adults/families, juveniles who are on probation, and children who have attracted attention from police by engaging in harmful behavior and activities like theft, truancy or violence.

The program is funded by the European Union and it ultimately aims to promote better understanding and greater practical application of modern concepts in the administration of juvenile justice in Armenia.

Implementing partners are the Civil Society Institute and Penal Reform International. Children’s Center Executive Director and Program Coordinator Dr. Mira Antonyan welcomed everyone with a speech. Also present were Hayk Khemchyan of Penal Reform International in Armenia; President of the Civil Society Institute Arman Danielyan, Department of Juvenile Issues Representative Nelly Duryan, and other representatives from the area’s Regional Administration, Commission on Trusteeship and Guardianship, Child Rights Protection Unit of Kotayq Marz, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Issues.

Some members of the FAR Children’s Center’s “Circle of Friends” donor and support group, including Bella Kocharyan were also present.

Watch news coverage of the event, which was broadcasted on Kentron TV Channel.

Daycare Rehabilitation Center in Abovyan, run by
FAR’s Children’s Center, was launched as part of the new
Juvenile Justice in Armenia Program.

Some members of the FAR Children’s Center’s “Circle of Friends”
donor and support group, including Bella Kocharyan were also present.


Credit: Elena Haroutyunyan

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