?I am also citizen of this country? say children with disabilities in Armenia

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'I am also a citizen of this country', was the resounding message at a recent event to celebrate the International Day of Disabled Persons in Armenia, with a theatre performance by children with disabilities communicating their hopes and wishes for the future. 'On International Day of Disabled Persons we would like to show that these children are equal citizens of our country: they dream, feel, imagine and love like all other children and they need our care, love and support', said Lusine Simonyan, Director of the Child Development Foundation. 'The Child Development Foundation seeks to provide all these and ensure their harmonious development and happy childhood', added Simonyan at the event, which gathered various Armenian celebrities, representatives of government and profit and non-profit sectors to draw public attention to children with disabilities and recognise their strengths and achievements. 'Our participation has a stronger impact on children with disabilities and public in general. We would like to show our care, support and most importantly love towards them. We call for people to recognise their abilities and strengths, and just see these children as equal citizens of the country', said Zaruhi Babayan, a famous Armenian pop-singer who together with other celebrities talked with the children and had photos taken with them. Later the photographs with the participation of children and celebrities will be assembled in one billboard entitled, 'We care', to be posted in the centre of the Armenian capital, Yerevan, for one month. By drawing on clay pots alongside their celebrity guests, children tried to express their emotions and sense of the world they live in. The clay pots were later auctioned off during the event, with the money raised donated to hospitalised children in need of urgent support. 'My grandson enjoys every minute he spends in the [child development] centre. His development has gone so well that he now goes to school together with other children. These kinds of initiatives make him even more joyful and give him a feeling of fullness,' said Karine, the grandmother of 12-year-old Levon who has Down Syndrome and has been attending the centre for almost four years. Since 2002 the Child Development Centre established within World Vision Armenia's Inclusive Education Project has provided a variety of professional services such as psychological consulting, art therapy, speech therapy, social work, applied art, special education, training and contributes to the protection of the rights of children and their families, children's healthy development and social inclusion. In 2009 the centre was transformed into the Child Development Foundation as a self-sustainable unit. -Ends-