RETURN TO SOURCES COOPERATION

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3 COOPERATION FADF and OFII (French Office of Immigration and Integration) have signed a new agreement with the FADF, thus continuing with their historical collaboration regarding repatriation assistance. The new agreement was finalized in the framework of a call for bids launched by OFII for the implementation of an updated and improved plan regarding the social and economic reintegration of migrants. Afterwards, on June 22, 2016 the Ambassador of France in Armenia Mr. Jean-François Charpentier, the director of the French Office of Immigration and Integration (OFII) representative office Mr. Jean- Dominique Fabry and the executive director of the French Armenian Development Foundation Mr. Tigran Rafyan paid a visit to a sewing workshop established in the framework of the "Return to Sources" project. Opened in 2015, this small workshop experienced a significant growth and allowed to create five jobs only in one year. In partnership with OFII and FFAD, the AAAS launched in November 2005 the "Return to Sources" project aimed at helping irregular Armenian migrants who live abroad and wish to return to Armenia voluntarily. RETURN TO SOURCES Since 2005 the FADF in cooperation with AAAS and OFII initiated the "Return to Sources" project aiming to assist the voluntary return of Armenians who are in irregular situations in France. Over Armenian citizens took the decision to return to Armenia to build a new life. As assistance, more than 282 micro enterprises were created and financed. At the granting committee on 24 November 2016, seven new projects were validated. It should be noted that the creation of small enterprises depends on the beneficiary s motivation, seriousness of the business project and the feasibility. The commission that allocates the required amount for creating the enterprises held a meeting under the premises of the Embassy of the French Republic in Armenia. The target groups of the project are the voluntary returnees from France, such as the asylum seekers, rejected asylum seekers, recognized refugees, foreigners who have granted residence because of humanitarian, political reasons or according to international law are in possession of a residence permit. Taking into account the needs and constraints of target groups a decision regarding a new social assistance component was made. 20 returnees have benefited from this service 4 out of which are women, 10 children and 4 are persons with disability.

4 INTEGRATION THROUGH ART CHILDREN FOR CHILDREN CHARITY CONCERT The "Integration through Art" project launched in partnership with Art School named after Ghazaros Saryan. Since January 2016, through the FADF support, 40 students: among them physically or mentally disabled children, orphans, children from impoverished families, Syrian-Armenian refugees, etc. got an opportunity to learn arts: music, singing, dance, painting, theater, etc. and be integrated. The budget covered children s tuition fees, purchase of necessary equipment and in some cases, the maintenance of instruments provided to the children for the lessons. Teachers engaged in the project were also encouraged by the honoraria. The project also encouraged to include children suffering from serious disorders causing inability to move. Thus, teachers visited Marie Izmirlian orphanage twice a week in order to work with children enthusiastic to learn Arts. The artistic education is far from being merely an education; it is a key to integration and also a form of therapy. A Charity concert was initiated by the FADF and the Art School named after Ghazaros Saryan with participation of gifted pupils of the school on May 8, in Chamber Music Hall, Yerevan. Funds raised by the concert were provided to the orphans of Armenian soldier who heroically fell during the military actions commenced by Azerbaijan. The family members and children were also invited to the event. The children were so impressed by the performance that expressed a wish to attend music classes. Children's wish was welcomed by the school administration, and they will be enrolled in Art School.

5 CHILD PROTECTION INDEX The FADF representative was involved in the national experts group aimed at developing the national Child Protection Index initiated by the Child Pact. The Child Protection Index is an independent tool to measure each country s child protection reforms in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The Index points out how each country performs across 626 indicators adapted from the official UNCRC implementation checklist, with the understanding that child protection is a system of different actors and responsibilities within families, civil society and Government. On April 12, 2016, after piloting the Child Protection Index in nine countries (Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Serbia, Moldova, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Romania), a team of experts gathered again to improve its methodology and the indicators framework. Ms. Nune Balyan from FADF participated as country representative in the workshop in Belgrade dedicated to re-evaluating the Child Protection Index main frame with focus on UNCRC articles and discussing the improvement of this powerful regional instrument by the experts worked on collecting data for the pilot. The Child Protection Index furthermore was presented in Brussels, on 28 September The launch event was held at the European Economic and Social Committee EESC, in the presence of EU stakeholders, CSO representatives and child rights experts and activists. Later, on 17 November 2016 the Armenian Child Protection Network organized the launch of the Child Protection Index in Yerevan. The CPI is likely to become a very useful tool for orienting the lobbing strategies on specific issues and advocating for better policies to protect vulnerable children. Fighting for improvements in certain areas will be easier due to the clear picture at the national level, but also because we will be able to make comparisons with the neighboring countries. This opens the way to a healthy competition between countries and this is one of the most important added values of the Child Protection Index.

6 ACCESS TO ADEQUATE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS IN ARMENIA On November 14, 2016 the Association Arménienne d Aide Sociale in cooperation with the Saint Sarkis Charity Trust launched a project aimed at improving the educational and rehabilitation services provided to children with behavioral and social problems. An implementing partner the FADF has a role to promote the Rights of children with behavioral and social problems by developing educational and rehabilitation services in Armenia. The project intends to reinforce the capacities of specialists working in the field by forming a team of methodologists able to act not only as service providers but also trainers and methodologists, thus contributing to the development of the methodological resource center. The project will ensure qualified educational and rehabilitation services for children with behavioral problems by working out and adapting rehabilitation mechanism and methodologies. It will also promote the integration of children at risk in their native society and public schools, by ensuring the qualified specialist in educational, rehabilitation and integration services at community level. Experts on social assistance and child psychology were involved as permanent staff. Two more experts: Estelle Remy a social assistant form the child social rehabilitation center (France) and Karen Harutyunyan Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist from the Psychological and Psychiatric services (Canada) were involved in Skype consultations. Aiming to link with the existing integrated social services, rehabilitation centers, day/night care and protection institutions and alternative juvenile justice projects, a round table discussion was organized on December 20, During the discussion, a perspective on improvement in the educational and rehabilitation services provided to children with behavioral and social problems was presented to the stakeholders. Pauline Decuyper, social worker from France presented the French expertise related to the assistance to children with social and behavioral problems. The related Armenian experience was presented by Nune Balyan. Discussions with the field Experts, such as lawyer, special educator, psychologist, child psychiatrist and social assistance specialists were organized by the coordinator of the project in order to adapt the transformation strategy and the action plan. The project was also discussed with the UNICEF and the Child Protection Network in order to align the strategies and actions.

7 CENTER FOR INTEGRATION AND EDUCATION Since its foundation the Dialogue center hosted hundreds of people providing with the opportunity to get acquainted with the deaf culture, their peculiarities and the mother tongue of the deaf- the Armenian sign language. The center provided sign language interpreting, accompanying and counseling services for its around 800 beneficiaries since its creation. More than 1000 interpreting services for DHHP were organized to various organizations as well as for the specialists of public organization and NGOs making their services accessible for DHHP. Moreover, Armenian Sign language classes were organized for around 100 hearing persons and specialists (psychologists, nurses, teachers, DHHP family members) form various public services. This website is unique with its web dictionary page, where one can see over 2000 words with videos. All the presented video materials are shot, edited and presented by the young people with hearing impairments. The translation of Armenian Sign language online dictionary into English was initiated by our Volunteer Garsia Yeremian making the Armenian sign language accessible for English speakers, as well as supporting the Armenian Deaf people to learn English words. More than 500 video articles are interpreted in Armenian sign language, edited and shared via web source (news, medical and educational programs). Video lessons on American Sign Language were interpreted into Armenian and shared by the website. The web resource center has its Facebook page where all the updates are shared and opened for discussion. The website is a resource not only for the people with hearing impairments, but also for the specialists who are working with them, family members and public at large. We are getting positive feedbacks and suggestions from young people who have just started to become acquainted with the Armenian sign language and the Deaf society through the website and its Facebook page.

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9 FRENCH ARMENIAN DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION 10/7 Azatutyan Avenue, 0037 Yerevan, Armenia, Tel: , Fax: , website:

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