ARMENIA - According to statistics, 8,000 Armenian children have different kinds of disabilities, and over 11,500 children with special needs and from poor families are institutionalised in Armenia, as a result of a Soviet State program specifying educational segregation of children with disabilities.

In response to the request of the Government of Armenia to address the segregation and institutionalisation of children with disabilities, World Vision became the leading agency to facilitate the introduction of inclusive education throughout Armenia.

The philosophy of inclusion and values of inclusive education were introduced to the public policy makers, influencing policy change. In 2001, the UNICEF mission in Armenia highly praised the Inclusive Education Project (IEP) and provided additional funding for the project's development.