Anush Aslanyan graduated from Vanadzor State University in 2015, holds a master's degree and is a biologist by profession. In 2014, Anush founded “Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities” NGO, as she could not remain indifferent to the field of protection of the rights of people with disabilities due to her own life experiences with a disability. The NGO's goals are to promote the access to education for children and youth with disabilities in the Lori region, to make the physical environment and access to public transport available, to increase employment opportunities for disabled people in the region and to promote participation of people with disabilities in cultural life and leisure.

Her personal and professional mission is to advocate for the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities in Armenia. Under her leadership, Anush has implemented various advocacy and social programs promoting the rights and empowerment of people with disabilities living in the Lori region, Armenia. In 2019, she founded EREOstyle Souvenirs Social Enterprise. The social enterprise sells traditional Armenian dolls, art souvenirs and provides printing services. The main goal of the social enterprise is to support the financial sustainability of her organization’s activities and the creation of job opportunities and skills training for people with disabilities. They make native Armenian dolls, various types of decorative pillows, necklaces, earrings and magnets, and provides printing and embroidery services. All the products are wooden, hand-painted and handmade. 

Additionally, in July and August of 2019, Anush travelled to Eugene, Oregon in the 9th International Women's Institute on Leadership and Disability (WILD) program. In Armenia, she also facilitated a self-empowerment meditation and art activity where we envisioned and discussed what is needed to promote the rights, opportunities, equality, and health of women and girls with disabilities.

IVLP Impact Award Project: Let's Philosophize about Disability Together

Anush’s program focused on the social empowerment of young people with disabilities and involved filming 15 videos with 15 guests who answered questions and prepared dishes associated with inclusivity. The program aimed to change negative perceptions of people with disabilities and show they are active members of society. Representation is powerful, and it is believed that this program will have a continued impact both on the people with disabilities featured and the audience who will view this video series.

The featured guests used creativity and humor to present the world of people with disabilities, their problems, and their needs. The target audience was people with disabilities in the Lori province, but the program's reach extended to people with disabilities in other provinces, who contacted the host to participate. The program fulfilled guests' dreams of not only talking about their experiences as people with disabilities but also hosting a program themselves. The program even included a famous comedian and singer, which added to the project's overall popularity and promotion. The videos are available with English subtitles and Armenian sign language interpretation.

Click here to watch project videos

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Anush was a participant in the IVLP Project A Global Moment in Time - Reflections on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center.

Anush's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "The program held in the U.S. was a great experience for me. The idea of this program came when [a speaker on a panel] discussed the role of online social media in changing [people's] way of thinking and how you can achieve your goal with few resources. That's where I started thinking about using my YouTube channel as a fast-acting tool for the inclusion of people with disabilities."

U.S. Communities Visited

San Francisco, CA; Washington, DC; Portland, OR

Country: Armenia

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