Extending Mobility and Hope to Armenia's Disabled

June 7, 2005

Yerevan -- On June 07, John Evans, US Ambassador to Armenia, participated in a wheelchair distribution event held in a park in downtown Yerevan. The event was organized by Counterpart International, one of the major U.S. Government-funded humanitarian assistance program implementers in Armenia and is the first in a series of similar distributions to be conducted throughout Armenia's marzes. As a result of these distributions, as many as 500 disabled persons who are unable to afford wheelchairs on their own will receive modern, state of the art wheelchairs. The chairs are a donation from Latter-Day-Saint Charities in cooperation with the Wheelchair Foundation of America.

Counterpart International closely cooperated with local NGOs who helped compile and verify the lists of eligible recipients -- most of whom have a first-category physical disability. The NGOs also provided significant logistical support in organizing this event.

The activities of Latter-Day Saints Charities in Armenia, which started in January 1988, have focused on three main areas of social sector: education, promotion of good health practices, as well as strengthening family values and the emotional well being of individuals, families, communities and institutions in Armenia.