Philanthropist Saad Kassis-Mohamed announces early childhood support

Philanthropist Saad Kassis-Mohamed announces early childhood support

Philanthropist Saad Kassis-Mohamed, chairman of WeCare Foundation, announced new support for early childhood development in Armenia. The initiative will deliver practical help that families and teachers feel immediately: early learning kits and classroom materials for kindergartens and community centers, caregiver workshops, basic health screening for young children, winter readiness for classrooms including heating support, and simple water and sanitation upgrades sized for small children.

Phase one will run with local partners in Yerevan, Gyumri, and Vanadzor, with disbursements

beginning in December. The initial target is to reach up to one thousand two hundred children ages three to eight and to train one hundred fiftyteachers and caregivers. Priority sites will receive new handwashing points and child friendly toilets, along with teaching aids and take home materials so parents can continue learning at home.

“This work is about small things that change a day for a child,” said Saad Kassis-Mohamed.

“A warm classroom, a safe tap, a simple set of learning tools, and a trained adult who knows

what to look for. We will keep it practical, publish what is delivered and where, and listen to

partners on the ground.”

WeCare Foundation will issue a short public summary after the first phase, showing locations

served, people reached, and the services provided. The initiative will be coordinated with

municipal education teams and community organizations to avoid duplication and to make

access straightforward for schools and families.

Delivery will follow a simple, transparent model. Partner educators will use a common

checklist to select classrooms and centers, prioritising sites with crowded rooms, limited

heating, and gaps in basic supplies. Teacher training will cover play based learning, early

numeracy and literacy, classroom warmth and safety, and how to spot developmental or

vision concerns for referral. Community sessions for parents and caregivers will run in

Armenian and Russian, with materials that can be taken home. Wherever possible, supplies

and minor works will be sourced locally to support jobs and speed up installation before the

coldest weeks.

Monitoring will track attendance, classroom warmth and safety checks, the number of

screenings completed, and caregiver participation. A feedback channel for teachers and

parents will be open throughout the term so adjustments can be made quickly, and the public summary will be published in Armenian and English.

More information: wcrfoundation.com