Nina adores playing with toys cars and dreams to become a driver.
“You should play with dolls!” her elder brother Taron would say, stopping her game. Nina's mother, Lilit, cares for the children on her own. She says, "Taron doesn't want me to work, saying that men should work while women should stay at home. This mindset is a burden for my boy, and it affects our live, as well."
Taron's family is one of 180 families receiving support from SOS Children’s Villages Armenia. The social worker, Sona, invited the siblings to a session called "Equal and Happy". In a large, well-lit room, Taron, Nina, and other kids gathered. Trainer put up a photo of a man vacuuming and asked, "Guys, all is ok with this photo?" Taron hurried to reply, "Men don't do cleaning!"
"Why not?" asked another boy. "My mom works all day long and we help her with household. It’s ok." A lively discussion followed. Taron began regularly attending "Gender Equality" sessions. “Lately, I saw him”, told Sona, “gently helping Nina to drive a toy car they got recently. Nina’s eyes were shining.”
We believe that all the children should have an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives.