Full Life Camp - One of Stepanavan's Hidden Resources
One of the things I was looking for in coming to Armenia was an Organization where I could help people with disabilities to live a Full and Independently integrated life within Armenia. I was able to find that type of program in coming to Full Life NGO. Not only are they involved in supporting Children with disabilities to feel accepted and included within their communities and the educational system while growing up. But they also advocate for Adults with Disabilities to be be included within the workforce and to be able live a fully integrated life within their communities.
One of the hidden resources of Full Life and the Stepanavan Community is Full Life's Camp. Most people in Stepanavan don't know that it exists except for a few Taxi Drivers who have learned about it because we have paid them to take us up the rough and rocky road to the camp. But to the children and adults who have been there it is an Oasis of fun, fellowship, and support that they can not find all over Armenia. Part of that is that there are very few places like it that are fully accessible to people with disabilities. The other part is it is a place where people are accepted for who they are and they are included in a network of friends and supporters with and without disabilities who care about them. Full Life Camp became the center of attention in Stepanavan this summer when the potential future leader of Armenia, the Prime Minister drove through Stepanavan just to visit Full Life Camp. Although I was two shy to ask for a picture with the Prime Minister I didn't mind sneaking into the background of a picture of him with one of my Peace Corps Friends.
One of my favorite times working with Full Life is any time we are working at Full Life Camp. This year we were able to have 4 weeks of inclusive camp for younger and older Children from all over Armenia. It was a time of fun where everyone was included no matter what type of abilities or disabilities you might have. One of my favorite times at camp is whenever we had singing and dancing.
Everyone loves music and dancing. Just like this time when we were singing "If You're Happy And You Know It" in Armenian.
Camp was not just a great place for Children. It was a place for Adults as well where we had Boccie Ball Tournaments, Legal Advocacy Camp, and it was the perfect place to set up my SPA Grant Project of and Independent Living Training Program For People With Disabilities.
This program will be ready to start in April of 2016 and will last till the end of October. We took a cabin that was in need of restoration and made fully functional Handicapped Accessible Home where people with Disabilities can learn to live independently, learn to cook, do their laundry, and have equipment to learn to exercise and do physical Therapy.
Then we will have them come into the Full Life Office where we created a functional Computer Lab where
they can learn to work with computers and learn to be a part of an Office Staff. Full Life Camp will then become an important tool in making People With Disabilities feel that they can be able to live Independently as well as learn work skills to be able to afford to live on their own to become included as a part of the world around them. During the summer this program will enable people with Disabilities to be able to become role models for our children by showing them how a person can be able to live Independently no matter what their Disabilities are. We will then add to our Camp Program teaching Personal Hygiene, Cooking, as well as a Exercise and Physical Therapy Program. With the addition of a new Swimming pool we hope to add Swimming and Aqua Therapy as well. 
Full Life camp is an important Resource for People With Disabilities in Armenia. Not only is the camp one of the few Handicapped Accessible Camp Facilities in Armenia. But with Boccie Ball Tournaments, Legal Advocacy Camp, four weeks this year of Children's camp, and now with 7 months of Independent Living Training Program our camp will be able to be used to enable Children and Adults with Disabilities to learn to be live as independent a life as possible while being included with their peers and preparing to find work for themselves in the working world. Since all of these camps and programs are provided free to those children and adults needing the services of our camp the only limits to the Camp's use is what type of funding we can receive to enable people to benefit from the potential services our Camp has to offer. This summer we would hope to find funding support to at least have 4 weeks of Inclusive Camp for Children with Disabilities and Disadvantaged Children to enjoy camp together while learning that skills that will help them to live as independent and inclusive a life as possible with their peers. Hopefully we can not only have another Boccie Ball Tournament but also include other sports along with it. With the Independent Living Program I would love to be able to have a camp that would have Adults with Disabilities be able to come together to work on gaining Independent Living Skills while having programs to share Legal Advocacy, teach career assessment as well as promote Vocational Training and job search skills. Then I would love to have a camp for older children and adults with disabilities where they can learn to live as independent a life as possible while learning to be active and included in the world around them.
I only have less than a year to a little less than a year and a half left if I extend my Peace Corps Service. We have the potential of accomplishing a lot of things during that time but it may all depend on continued funding supports for all of these programs. There are many things left to do through the Full Life Program within Stepanavan. I am hoping that by the time that I will have to leave in 2017 that there will be another Peace Corps Volunteer able to take my place in not only sustaining the Programs we hope to start at Full Life. But to use their own creativity to help Full Life NGO help meet the needs of People With Disabilities all over Armenia. Full Life would like to expand their partnership with a program for Youth in Tashir as well as to expand their program to provide services and support for People With Disabilities in Yerevan and around Armenia. There are many needs for People With Disabilities but Full Life NGO in Stepanavan is one of Stepanavan and Armenia's Hidden Resources that can help to meet those needs. I am thankful for the Peace Corps and Full Life NGO for the opportunity to work with them to help to meet those needs.
