On Sunday, November 3rd, the Counselling Centre of Merimna in Thessaloniki for the first time held a “Memory Day” to honour parents who are no longer alive, and their families receive support from the psychologists of our Counselling Center.
This event is important both for us and for the families as it is a day of honour and respect for the parents who have passed away, a day of meeting and reconnecting families with each other and with the people of Merimna, reminding them that they are not alone in this journey.
Children and parents had the opportunity, through an activity that we planned, to remember the beautiful moments they shared with their own beloved person, but also to “keep” all the things they want to keep alive in their memory, which give them strength and courage to continue despite the pain of loss.
Participants in the “Memory Day” said about this event: “It was balm for the soul. I felt like I was letting go of what I’ve been holding on to for a long time…” “It’s important for the children as they get a chance to honour the parent they lost, who will always be in our hearts.”
The “Memory Day” was held at the Lazart Hotel. We would like to express our thanks to all those who contributed to the event.
First of all, to the parents and the children, whose presence there gave meaning to the event and then to all those who helped us with their kind offer and their impeccable professionalism.
Specifically:
-Mrs. Lina Panagopoulou – calligrapher, who filled in the names of the parents in our album.
-Mr. Thodoros Tselepis, who created the video dedicated to the memory of the parents.
-The students of the Music High School Theofania Papapaschalis on the flute and Cornelios Nicolaides on the piano, for the wonderful melodies with which they decorated the day.
Finally, we would like to thank the Stavros Niarchos Foundation for its valuable support. The event took place in the framework of the project “Support in bereavement for children and families who have experienced loss”, which is implemented thanks to the SNF Nostos x Release Athens donation program, as part of the Global Health Initiative (GHI) of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
