Another Heartwarming Group Therapy Session at Hanganak
Sometimes, the simplest creative activity can open the door to heartfelt conversations, awaken precious memories, and help express feelings that are not always easy to put into words.
On October 27, Hanganak Charity NGO hosted another meaningful group therapy session led by Dr. Anahit Lalayan, psychotherapist at the Empatia Foundation for Psychosocial Support.
This time, participants were invited to take part in a simple yet deeply engaging creative exercise. Using colorful sheets of paper, they were asked to draw their favorite fruit or vegetable, carefully cut it out, and place it into a large basket outlined on a white poster.
What initially seemed like a playful art activity soon became a beautiful journey through memories, emotions, and personal experiences.
Each participant chose a fruit or vegetable that held a special meaning for them. As they explained their choices, the room filled with fascinating stories and heartfelt reflections.
Pomegranates, grapes, apples, plums, and even cabbage with its many layers – each carried its own symbolism and personal significance.
A pomegranate could evoke family unity, Armenian traditions, and the strength of our roots. Grapes could bring back memories of vineyards, harvests, and the abundance of one’s homeland. Apples and plums might recall familiar childhood tastes, while the many layers of a cabbage could symbolize the complexity of human emotions and the experiences accumulated over a lifetime.
Yet the most meaningful part of the exercise was not the traditional symbolism of these fruits and vegetables, but the unique interpretations that each participant brought to their choice.
For our older beneficiaries, who were forcibly displaced from Artsakh, such creative activities hold particular emotional significance.
Each of them has carried an entire world into their new life in Armenia: memories of their homes, loved ones, gardens, familiar scents and flavors, and the places where they spent much of their lives. Alongside these cherished memories are the pain of displacement, the longing for their homeland, and the enduring hope of one day returning to Artsakh.
Through creative expression and shared conversations, our participants have an opportunity to reconnect with these memories, express their feelings, listen to one another, and experience the comfort of being understood.
Gradually, the empty basket began to fill with colorful fruits and vegetables. Every piece was different, just as every participant’s life story is unique. Yet together, they formed a beautiful and harmonious composition.
In many ways, the basket became a symbol of our small Hanganak community: different lives, different memories, and different experiences, united by mutual care, friendship, resilience, and the desire to rediscover joy.
The atmosphere throughout the session was lively, welcoming, and full of warmth. Participants drew, cut, and arranged their creations while exchanging stories, sharing smiles, helping one another, and listening with genuine interest.
This gathering was also special because a filming crew visited Hanganak to document our work and highlight the importance of psychosocial support, creative activities, and community engagement in improving the wellbeing and social inclusion of displaced older adults.
We deeply value opportunities to share our work with a wider audience and raise awareness of the emotional and social needs of older people who have experienced forced displacement.
Following the session, everyone gathered around the table for tea, coffee, fresh fruit, and friendly conversations. As always, these informal moments became a natural continuation of the gathering, strengthening the friendships and sense of belonging that have grown within our community.
At Hanganak, we believe that caring for older adults means much more than providing medical assistance or social services.
It also means creating opportunities to be heard, to express emotions, to discover creativity, to build friendships, and to feel valued as active members of a caring community.
And when our older beneficiaries leave these gatherings with smiles on their faces, we are reminded once again why this work matters so deeply.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the Armenian Women’s Welfare Association (AWWA), Hanganak’s longstanding principal sponsor and supporter. Through AWWA’s generous and unwavering commitment, we are able to continue providing psychosocial support and meaningful community activities that bring comfort, dignity, and connection into the lives of displaced older adults.
Our sincere appreciation also goes to the Empatia Foundation for Psychosocial Support and Dr. Anahit Lalayan for their professional dedication, compassion, and continued efforts to create a safe, welcoming environment where our beneficiaries can share their feelings and find strength in one another.
Because sometimes, a small paper fruit can tell the story of an entire lifetime, while a basket created together can remind us that, even after profound loss and displacement, we are not alone.