By Joshua Governale | Public Relations
Healing Garden Report
October 26th 2021
Armin’s* Story
Armin*, age 50
Having grown up orphaned, Armin worked his entire life to provide for himself, his wife and five children. A passionate gardener, Armin was known to speak non-stop about different trees, flowers and agricultural techniques.
Armin suffered a stroke causing half his body to respond exceptionally slow. His lack of motor skills and partial paralysis led him into severe depression. Taking advice from his family, Armin reached out Jiyan Foundation in Chamchamal last spring.
Realizing his passion for gardening and yearning for physical activity our therapists invited Armin to eight sessions of garden therapy at the healing garden.
Soon after, Armin gifted his own trees and flowers to plant in the garden. On his final therapy session Armin confessed he was afraid to return home but thanks to his therapy he has now gained the courage and inspiration to go back to his home village and create his own sanctuary for local plants and animals.
The plants he tended to last spring are thriving this summer, providing shade and security to the animals of the healing garden. While his motor skills aren’t what they used to be, his depression has subsided, and Armin looks forward to retiring to his own sanctuary where he can pay forward the help that he was given.
Since 2020, In cooperation with the German institute GÄRTEN HELFEN LEBEN, Jiyan therapists from Chamchamal have been trained in horticultural therapy. Supervised by their coaches, they have started using the therapeutic potential of the healing garden with clients from Chamchamal’s treatment center and the women’s clinic.
What is Horticultural Therapy?
It’s well documented that tending to plants and living creatures can yield positive psychological and physical effects. Horticultural therapy combines gardening with other therapeutic techniques to improve the lives of people with physical and mental health problems. These techniques assist participants in learning new skills or regaining those which they have lost due to traumatic injuries, strokes or other neurological disorders. Horticultural therapy can improve memory, language skills, socialization, coordination and endurance.
How donations are spent:
The Healing Garden requires a lot of upkeep. The sustainable architecture and living materials are in constant need of maintenance and the animals require daily care. Excluding staff salaries, the Healing Garden costs on average $3,500 each month to maintain.
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