EU Neighbours. In Armenia, the daily life of over 3,200 people with hearing impairments is a challenge even in the simplest tasks, such as calling a hospital, a bank or a social service. The barrier of “not being understood” extends beyond these daily interactions, to education, employment, culture participation and social life. For decades, the Armenian Deaf Society NGO has been breaking down these barriers, advocating for inclusion and equal participation. Thanks to EU funding, the NGO has launched new services – a remote sign language interpretation centre and a youth gathering space – which have positively impacted not just its 600 members but also the entire deaf community across the country.
“Since its founding in 1932, the Armenian Deaf Society has been tackling the challenges faced by the deaf community, while advocating for their rights and raising awareness,” says Arevik Hovhannisyan, coordinator of the initiative. “Deaf individuals are a socially vulnerable group, often facing isolation – especially if they lack proficiency in sign language or access to an inclusive community.” With support from EU funding through the Near East Foundation, the NGO promotes the concept of a community gathering space where people with hearing impairments can come together to learn, collaborate, receive support and drive meaningful change in their community.
A major milestone of the Armenian Deaf Society initiative was establishing a remote sign language interpretation centre, designed to facilitate communication between deaf individuals and public institutions, medical centres, banks or social service agencies. Since its launch in 2022, the centre has handled over 5,270 calls, connecting deaf individuals to various services. “One of the centre’s most significant achievements was its contribution to finding employment for individuals with hearing impairments. Thanks to its efforts, 12 deaf individuals have secured jobs in various organisations,” Arevik says proudly. “But the support doesn’t stop there – the centre continues to bridge communication gaps between them and their employers by providing interpretation services.”
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Astghik Alaverdyan (23) is one of ten professionals who have benefited from another important milestone of the NGO’s initiative – the Armenian Sign Language programme. Astghik, who discovered the programme while studying surd pedagogy at university, says: “Being hard of hearing myself, mastering Armenian Sign Language was not only crucial for my career – it was a transformative experience for my personal growth and my ability to connect with others in the community.” The five-month course was a turning point, deepening Astghik’s understanding of the role she could play in supporting people with hearing impairments to access education, employment and social opportunities. Equipped with enhanced sign language skills and expertise in surdopedagogy (education for the hearing impaired), she was offered the position of an assistant coordinator at the Armenian Deaf Society, where she now plays a key role in organising events, trainings and community-building initiatives.
Designed for both hearing and non-hearing individuals, the Armenian Sign Language course prepares interpreters while also equipping professionals like Marine Aghajanyan with sign language skills. Marine, a healthcare worker, now uses sign language to communicate directly with deaf patients, improving accessibility in the medical field.
Recognising the importance of economic independence, the NGO also offered short-term vocational training in make-up, nail care and digital marketing. These programmes provided deaf individuals with marketable skills, enabling them to find stable employment or start their own businesses. As a result, several participants, including two women trained in nail care and make-up, have secured themselves a stable source of income.
Mariam Tadevosyan, a 25-year-old aspiring artist, is one of them. After attending a make-up training course, she initially practised make-up on her friends to gain experience and earn money, with a strong determination to open her own studio, However, it was a career counselling session at the youth gathering space that changed her life. This dedicated environment was established by the Armenian Deaf Society to make young people with hearing impairments learn new skills and find career guidance.
More than 100 young individuals have participated in professional training courses, networking events and personal development sessions. “The career counselling session completely changed my life,” says Mariam. “During the session, I spoke about my hobby – painting – how much I love it. I received guidance on selecting the right college and I applied for admission.” Today, the girl studies painting and dreams of opening an art studio where she can teach children with hearing impairments.
The success of this EU-funded initiative extends beyond its immediate results. Thanks to partnerships with the Yerevan Municipality and national government institutions, the sign language call centre and the youth gathering space continue to successfully operate, bringing positive experiences to many people with hearing impairments in Armenia. “This initiative has been filled with countless success stories that continue to have a long-term and transformative impact on the deaf community in Armenia,” says Astghik Alaverdyan. “The progress made so far is just the beginning, and our team remains committed to expanding these initiatives to create an even more inclusive and accessible society.”
Author: Volha Prokharava
