VivaCell-MTS supports integration of children with special needs

On December 3rd, The International Day of People with Disabilities The Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) and its General Partner VivaCell-MTS hosted children with disabilities and their parents, who participate in a Hippotherapy course in the area of Zoo's hippodrome in the frames of partners’ joint program.

In June by opening the first inclusive playground in Zoo, FPWC-VivaCell-MTS-Yerevan Municipality tripartite partnership launched the series multi-component events, which main mission is to integrate children with disabilities and to satisfy their special needs.

“Unfortunately, the bond between humans, nature and wildlife has almost disappeared nowadays, yet harmony with the surrounding world is the guarantee of an individual’s spiritual and physical health. The positive impact of the contact with animals has long been proven by scientists, and hippotherapy has a special role in the treatment of children with special health care needs. People living in urban areas are devoid of the opportunity to spend much time in nature and contact with animals. We are glad that now a hippotherapy center has been established in Yerevan for children with special health care needs. VivaCell-MTS provides financial support to make the program available to children attending the center free of charge, so that the financial factor does not become an impediment to their treatment.” VivaCell-MTS General Manager Ralph Yirikian said.

The Hippotherapy program in this context has been launched since October 1st. Hippotherapy is a variety of therapeutic physical training, a form of rehabilitation, which is carried on through the contact with horses and riding. During the last decades Hippotherapy has been recognized as the world's most efficient mean of rehabilitation of people with various disabilities, especially among children.

During this time dozens of children with disabilities involved in this program have had an opportunity to participate in free of charge Hippotherapy and riding courses twice a week, and the other days to feed and take care of the horses. 

One of the main advantages of this program is the position of the hippodrome. Unlike Hippotherapy centers, which, as a rule, are located outside the city, the hippodrome in Yerevan Zoo is much more available and provides an opportunity to join the program without any additional travel costs, especially for those who live in Yerevan.

Already more than three dozens of children have participated in this program. Taking into account the importance of this program and the number of new children registered for it, the authors of this initiative decided to make it permanent. Owing to VivaCell-MTS children can take part in this program in Zoo free of charge.