The Context

Every child has the right to be supported by their community to grow, learn, develop in the early years, and, upon reaching school age, to go to school be welcomed and included in the society. When all children, regardless of their differences, are given the possibility to grow and develop together, everyone benefits. In a truly inclusive setting, every child feels safe, has a sense of belonging. Moreover, when children are offered the same of opportunities of growth development in an inclusive environment they are likely to face an inclusive civic participation, employment, community life.

The project

The ESC project “SOS – A home for every child” was a long-term ESC volunteering project for 5 young people from Greece (18-30 yrs) intending to give the children of the ZATIK organization access to quality childhood development.

The volunteers participated in most activities with the children & had a variety of different tasks:

• Participation in all art workshops & offer of support to staff in organizing activities (painting, sculpturing, handicrafts, etc.)
• Establishment of social ties with children by chats & games.
• Presentation of their country & culture to the children
• Organization of recreational activities for the children
• Playing with the children, helping with the organization of social activities, group games, etc., excursions & outdoor activities

• Help in organizing a big exhibition of the artworks of the children on different topics
• Organisation of sports activities in the territory of the village

Within this framework, 5 volunteers carried out their activities in the ZATIK organization in Yerevan, with the support of the Armenian host organization

“HUJ”. The project entailed three separate activities:

A1: 6-months volunteering of one young person in “HUJ”, Yerevan, Armenia
A2: 6-months volunteering of two young people in “HUJ”, Yerevan, Armenia
A3: 6-months volunteering of two young people in “HUJ”, Yerevan, Armenia