On October 1, the International Day of Older Persons, Hanganak Charity NGO organized a special day for its beneficiaries from Yerevan and Hrazdan. It became much more than a celebratory event – it was a warm reunion filled with heartfelt conversations, cherished memories, and the joy of being together.
In the morning, our team arranged transportation and accompanied our older beneficiaries from Yerevan to Hrazdan. At Charles Aznavour Park, they were welcomed by participants of Hrazdan’s Community-Based Center for Displaced Older Adults, bringing together people forcibly displaced from Artsakh and older residents of the host community.
From the first moments, the meeting between participants from Yerevan and Hrazdan was filled with warmth. Some already knew one another, while others were meeting for the first time. Yet it did not take long for the familiar atmosphere of trust, friendship, and belonging – so central to Hanganak’s programs for older adults – to emerge.
A generous outdoor reception was prepared for everyone, with zhengyalov hats, sweets, fresh fruit, tea, and coffee. But the greatest value of the day was not the food itself. It was the opportunity to sit together, talk without hurry, listen to one another, and once again feel part of a caring community.
The participants opened their hearts, recited poetry, shared stories from their lives, and remembered the years they had spent in Artsakh. Through their words, Shushi, Gandzasar, Amaras, Tigranakert, and many other beloved places came alive again the very places where Hanganak had organized similar gatherings, excursions, and pilgrimages for its beneficiaries over many years.
Those memories were both warm and painful. They carried images of their homeland, festive days spent together, familiar roads, songs, and conversations. This time, the gathering was taking place in Hrazdan, but Artsakh was also present – in their hearts, in their stories, and in the smiles they shared with one another.
It was especially meaningful for us to witness participants from Yerevan and Hrazdan becoming closer, listening attentively, and sharing their experiences. Such gatherings give older adults an opportunity to step away, even briefly, from daily worries and loneliness and to feel valued, remembered, and surrounded by care.
To make the day even richer and more memorable, we continued our journey from Hrazdan to Tsaghkadzor. There, the participants visited the Kecharis Monastery Complex, spending time in its peaceful and spiritual surroundings. They then visited the Orbeli Brothers House-Museum, where they learned about the lives and achievements of the distinguished Armenian scholars.
The cultural visits inspired great interest among the participants. They offered an opportunity to see and learn something new, but, even more importantly, to leave the routine of home behind, travel together, and create new shared memories.
The International Day of Older Persons reminded us once again that an older person needs more than material or medical assistance. They also need companionship, attention, the feeling of being heard, and the assurance that their knowledge, experiences, and life stories matter.
Our participants shared memories, recited poetry, smiled, and enjoyed a beautiful day surrounded by nature. We were reminded once again that when people are given the opportunity to meet, speak, and travel together, new moments of warmth can emerge even beside the most painful memories.
Hanganak Charity NGO expresses its deepest gratitude to UNHCR Armenia, the Eurasia Partnership Foundation, and the Armenian Women’s Welfare Association (AWWA).
This joint event was made possible by combining support for the Hrazdan initiative – implemented with financial support from UNHCR Armenia through a grant awarded by the Eurasia Partnership Foundation – with funding provided by AWWA for Hanganak’s Elderly Project.
The support of our partners allowed us to bring together older adults from Yerevan and Hrazdan for a day of care, new experiences, and, most importantly, the feeling of being together.
That day, we did more than celebrate the International Day of Older Persons. Together, we traveled along a path of memories – from Artsakh to Hrazdan and Tsaghkadzor – carrying the past in our hearts while creating new memories for the future.
