My name is Ani Chaparyan. Yarik is my first child. I gave birth to him when I was 20 years old.

Until I was 23, I never even thought that there might be something wrong with my child. Yarik was still very little, and it was only when he turned three that I first learned about his condition. I consulted a psychiatrist, and that was when I heard the diagnosis — autism. From that day on, my life changed completely.

It felt as though I had entered a different reality, where everything that had once seemed important faded into the background. I devoted all my strength, time, and resources to helping Yarik, supporting his development, and giving him the opportunity to live as independently and as fully as possible. I was often given advice that is still painful to remember. People told me to place my child in an orphanage, to leave him behind and "start living my own life." But I didn't listen to anyone. I chose my child.

I started working, studying, growing as a person, and at the same time dedicating myself to Yarik. In many ways, I had to cope completely on my own — financially, morally, and emotionally. We have been through so much together. There were moments when it felt like I had no strength left. There was misunderstanding, judgment, and words and looks from other people that hurt more deeply than they could ever imagine. But time went on. Little by little, many things began to change. I changed. Yarik changed. His life improved. And today I can honestly say that everything we have been through has been worthwhile. But our story is not over. The challenges remain to this day. Every new day brings its own trials. It is especially difficult to live in a society where there is still so little understanding of what autism is and what families raising children with developmental differences go through.

We have faced misunderstanding not only from the people around us but from society as a whole. Sometimes your challenge is not only to help your child — you constantly have to explain to others why your child is the way he is, why he may behave differently, and why that does not make him any less deserving of love, respect, and a full life. I don't know what my life would have been like if I had never heard that diagnosis. But I know one thing for certain: I have never regretted choosing to fight for my child. Yarik has taught me to be stronger, more patient, and never to give up.

I don’t know what my life would have been like if I hadn’t heard that diagnosis one day. But I know one thing for certain: I haven’t regretted for a single second that I chose to fight for my child. Yarik has taught me to be stronger, more patient and never to give up. And if I can talk about this openly today, it means that everything we’ve been through has made sense. Because behind every diagnosis lies more than just a word in a medical record. Behind it lies a child, their family, thousands of sleepless nights, fears, hopes, struggles and immense love.

And I want a day to come when our children no longer have to fight for the right to be understood.

Best regards,

Ani 

*The donation fee for the family of 2 includes:

Airline tickets to Cyprus

Transfer Larnaca - Paphos 

Programme for 10 days

Petrol expenses

Meals

Excursions

Entertainment