Inauguration of "Little Prince" Children Social Center

Since 2009 Armenian Caritas carried out preparatory activities to start a social center for children living in difficult circumstances. In 2010, February 16 Armenian Caritas held the inauguration of "Little Prince" social center, which started within the "Family Based Promotion of Children and Youth" project. The project is funded by Caritas Germany and German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project is funded for three years.

The selection of the title of the center is very symbolic and emphasizes the idea of creating warm and friendly environment.

The center is going to serve 70 schoolchildren. It opened in Gyumri, and is located near Ani district. It will mainly serve children and families living in the northern part of the city.

The Ambassador of Germany, Mr. Johan Schmidt, was also present at the inauguration and greatly prioritized creation of such a center in a city, where social problems are still very urgent.

The goal of the project is the social protection of disadvantaged children and their families. Armenian Caritas strives to diminish the need that children living in difficult circumstances enter special night care institutions or orphanages.

Here are the cervices of the center;

• Social assistance; involvement of a social worker, consultancy to the family in solving their problems,
• Psychological assistance to children and family members,
• Legal assistance; consultancy and mediation,
• Trainings for children (computer, cooking, design, journalism, sewing, and sport club)
• Specialized trainings for parents (Computer, office assistance skills, sewing, hairdressing, furniture making)
• Material support (cloths, stationery, hygienic items)

Currently all 70 children have already been selected, and 46 are involved in the trainings. The number of parents involved in trainings will rise in the future.