On February 6, 2009 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia for implementation of three year project “Living Together, Learning Together” granted by the Norwegian Government. The parties signed the MoU were: Deputy Minister of MoES Bagrat Yesayan, Deputy marzpet of Tavush marz Levon Sargsyan, Director of Armenian branch of Danish humanitarian relief organization “Mission East” Kim Hartzner and President of “Bridge of Hope” NGO Susanna Tadevosyan.

The new comprehensive approach to inclusive education will be piloted in Tavush Marz (administrative unite of several regions) with an ambition to be replicated in other Marzes of Armenia. The project has planned to create clear mechanisms for identification and registration of children with disabilities and develop data base on Marz level. This data base later may become basis for developing national data base of children with special educational needs. To support the sustainability of Inclusive education training of future schools the project has planned to train all trainers of National Institute of Education who will continue future capacity building of schools in inclusive education.

The football tournament “Football for Equal Opportunities” is an expected event among the media representatives. “Bridge of Hope” NGO, “Sunflower” newspaper, with the assistance of “Mission East”, DANIDA and Football Federation of Armenia organized the 2nd foosball tournament for media representatives.

The aim of the tournament was to advocate equal opportunities for the people with disabilities. It took place within the scope of Disability Month in Armenia- November 21-27, 2008.
8 teams participated in the tournament: “Mediamax”, “H1”, “Erkir Media”, “Big Football”, “Fourth Power”, “Tert.am”, “Sunflower” and “Armenian Showbusiness”. The latter’s participation was an exception, thus, the representatives of our showbiz united under the aim of the tournament. As usual, the tournament was held in John Kiraksyan’s N 20 school.

All the matches were served by professional referees, YSMI showed medical assistance. “Coca-cola Armenia” gave prizes to the teams holding the 1st, 2nd and the 3rd places and for other participants. They also presented the gym-hall of N 20 school with goal nets.
On November 28, at “MIKA” sportscomplex the award giving ceremony of took place. The first three winners were awarded with Cups. They are
1. “Tert.am”
2. “Erkir Media”
3. “Sunflower”
On the same day, the winner of the tournament held an unofficial match with “Coca Cola” team. At the end of the match, “Prkutyun” disabled children parents NGO made a surprise for Coca cola’s team: they gave handcrafts to the players.
2 prizes were also given to journalists. Armine Kocharian (Erkir Media) and Edgar Amirkhanian (panorama.am) got prizes for commenting the tournament.

These groups are connecting to each other families with the same problems in order make them exchange their experience, their information and help each other. The reletions between parents are established on the basis of the principle: “I know what you feel and understand you”.
Bridge of Hopes’ first parents, as well as parents newly involved in parents mutual support groups were present in the opening ceremony.
It is planned to organize computer courses for parents groups in January, which will support not only development of parents’ skills in computer software utilization, but will promote establishment of relations with parents’ networks worldwide.