For more than two decades, since 2004, the Izmirlian Foundation has provided continuous support to the Marie Izmirlian Orphanage, working to improve the living conditions, care and development opportunities of children with disabilities and special needs.
Over the years, the Foundation’s engagement has evolved from improving basic living conditions to supporting a broader transformation of the institution itself. Early investments focused on reconstruction of buildings, improvement of the surrounding grounds and better access to outdoor spaces, helping create safer and more comfortable living conditions throughout the year.
A significant part of the Foundation’s assistance has focused on improving the Orphanage’s infrastructure and creating a safer, more accessible and child-friendly environment. This has included reconstruction and improvement of the buildings and surrounding areas, installation of wheelchair ramps to improve accessibility, development of outdoor spaces, renovation of sanitation facilities, and improvements to facilities supporting children’s everyday care and well-being. The Foundation has also supported improvements related to food safety and other essential operational needs of the institution.
Alongside infrastructure development, the Foundation has supported the creation of spaces that promote social inclusion, learning and personal development. An inclusive playground was established to enable children of different abilities to play and interact in an accessible environment, while a dedicated crafts centre created opportunities for arts, crafts and art-therapy activities. Specialized beds, mattresses and waterproof covers were also provided to improve comfort and safety, particularly for children requiring more intensive or palliative care.
An increasingly important component of the Foundation’s support has been the development of rehabilitation services. In cooperation with specialized partners, the programme has strengthened access to physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychological and other rehabilitation services; supported multidisciplinary assessment and individual rehabilitation planning; renovated and equipped therapy rooms; and provided professional training for the Orphanage’s staff. The programme has also addressed limitations in the existing rehabilitation environment, including the need for better-equipped and more suitable physiotherapy and therapy spaces.
The Foundation’s broader support has also included specialized transportation for children with mobility limitations, enabling greater access to education and services outside the institution, as well as investments in the professional capacities of staff and the provision of assistive equipment and technologies.
Through this long-term partnership, the Izmirlian Foundation has sought to go beyond individual infrastructure improvements and contribute to a more comprehensive model of care—combining improved living conditions, accessibility, rehabilitation, education, social inclusion and professional support. The overall aim remains to improve the quality of life of children at the Marie Izmirlian Orphanage and ensure that they have access to the environment and services required for their health, development, dignity and participation.
As a result of this sustained engagement, children have improved access to education, rehabilitation and healthcare services within a safer and more supportive living environment. Care is increasingly based on individual needs, supported by trained professionals, better facilities and more appropriate equipment.
Children with special needs often face several barriers at once: limited access to education, a shortage of specialised rehabilitation services, an insufficiently adapted environment and a need for additional care. After years of improvements at the orphanage, more coordinated support was still needed so that children would receive safe transport, quality rehabilitative and palliative care, and a more inclusive and dignified environment. The project is built to close exactly those gaps, supporting the children's daily life, their opportunities to develop, and their overall wellbeing. <added by us>
The project's objective is to improve the quality of life and the conditions of children with special needs living at the Marie Izmirlian Orphanage, by providing more equal access to education and to healthcare and rehabilitation services. The project is also aimed at creating a safer, more inclusive environment adapted to children's needs. <added by us>
The project will provide support along several interconnected lines. It will supply specially adapted vehicles for transporting children safely to school and to other institutions. It will expand access to rehabilitative and palliative services through individual assessment, rehabilitation programmes, professional support, improvements to therapy rooms and the necessary equipment. Within the project an inclusive playground and a crafts centre will also be created, sanitary facilities will be renovated, and beds and mattresses with waterproof covers will be provided for up to 70 children, to strengthen comfort and safety. <added by us>
As a result of the project, children will have better access to education and to rehabilitative and healthcare services. The orphanage will be provided with better adapted and furnished therapy rooms, individual rehabilitation and palliative care plans, and trained staff. The project will also create a more inclusive and comfortable environment through the playground, the crafts centre, improved sanitary facilities and additional safety and comfort measures. <added by us>
Community Small Group Homes: Creating a Pathway from Institutional Care to Independent Living Supporting children and young people with disabilities has become one of the Izmirlian Foundation’s flagship areas of engagement, shaped by more than two decades of experience, emerging needs and persistent gaps in Armenia’s social care system.
The “Guyqadaran” Special Equipment Library is a multi-phase initiative of the Izmirlian Foundation and Source Foundation designed to improve the quality of life of children with disabilities and their families by providing access to therapeutic equipment and positioning devices needed for continuous rehabilitation. The model responds to an important gap: while parents are often taught therapeutic techniques that can be continued at home, specialized equipment may be unavailable or unaffordable. The project introduced a shared equipment library model, allowing families to temporarily borrow therapeutic and positioning devices according to a child’s individual needs and return them when they are no longer required, so that the equipment can subsequently benefit another child.
The Development of Inclusive Football for Children with Special Needs (Disabilities) project promotes social inclusion and healthy development through safe, accessible football activities in Yerevan. It targets children aged 9–18 with disabilities, including autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.
