This week, the Hrazdan Community-Based Center for Displaced Older Adults was filled with warm conversations, attentive listening, and the joy of being together as participants gathered for an engaging psychological group session.
The meeting was facilitated by Hermine Shahramanyan, an experienced psychologist who has generously joined Hanganak as a volunteer and agreed to conduct weekly psychological group sessions for older adults in Hrazdan. Hermine was also forcibly displaced from Artsakh, and she brings to these meetings not only her professional expertise, but also a personal understanding of the loss, uncertainty, and difficult process of rebuilding one’s life after displacement.
The group brought together beneficiaries of Hanganak’s Hrazdan center – including older people forcibly displaced from Artsakh and older residents of the host community – as well as several older adults who attend the Mission Armenia day-care center.
From the very beginning, the session developed into a lively and meaningful exchange. Participants listened to one another, shared their thoughts and feelings, and became actively involved in the discussion. The welcoming atmosphere helped the older adults feel comfortable, valued, and heard.
For people who have experienced forced displacement, psychological support is especially important. The loss of one’s home, familiar surroundings, community ties, and established way of life can leave deep emotional wounds. Group sessions provide a safe and caring space where older adults can express themselves, connect with others who may have faced similar challenges, and gradually rebuild trust and a sense of belonging.
At the same time, the participation of older residents from the host community creates opportunities for new friendships and mutual understanding. When displaced and local older adults sit together, listen to one another, and share their experiences, differences gradually give way to warmth, empathy, and connection.
We are deeply grateful to Hermine Shahramanyan for generously sharing her professional experience, time, and care with our participants. Her personal journey and willingness to stand beside other displaced people give these meetings a special sense of understanding and solidarity. Her volunteer contribution is deeply meaningful to the emotional well-being of our participants and to the welcoming community we are building in Hrazdan.
Psychological group sessions will now be held at the Hrazdan center every Wednesday, giving participants a regular opportunity to communicate, receive emotional support, strengthen their resilience, and simply enjoy being together.
We also appreciate the cooperation of Mission Armenia’s Hrazdan office, whose day-care center beneficiaries joined the meeting and helped make the group even more inclusive and vibrant.
Hanganak Charity NGO expresses its sincere gratitude to UNHCR Armenia and the Eurasia Partnership Foundation for making these gatherings possible. Their support allows us to create a safe and welcoming space where older adults can receive support, develop new relationships, regain confidence, and feel that they are not alone.
Sometimes healing begins with something very simple: a welcoming room, a caring professional, an honest conversation, and the reassuring presence of people sitting beside you.
In Hrazdan, this new circle of support has begun – and it will continue to grow every Wednesday.