Open Group for Punjabi Men: Connecting with Others

What is this group about?

The Heera Foundation is a charity aiming to narrow the gap between psychological support & education, and its’ accessibility. We believe that one of the key avenues towards positive mental health is through conversation and connection. Therefore, we started open groups for Punjabi communities to connect and discuss on topics we don’t usually talk about!

This is an open group for those who identify as Punjabi men to engage in a discussion with others around a particular topic, to listen, learn, and share. We welcome Punjabis from all faith backgrounds – Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, other faiths, spiritualities, and those who practice no faith or are agonistic.

In this session on Connecting with Others, we will consider the following questions:

– What does connection mean to us? What makes a good connection?

– Are there any difficulties that we have experienced in connecting with others?

– How do we connect with others during a difficult or stressful time?

– How connected do we feel to ourselves?

Who is this for?

This event welcomes all cis and trans men, as well as non-binary people who are comfortable in a space that centres the experiences of men who identify as Punjabi – of all faiths or indeed no faith. It’s an open and safe space for those that want to share their thoughts or simply listen and connect.

What to expect?

Each month we will focus on a particular topic of importance and relevance. We provide a safe space to both listen or share. Our format usually involves:

– Introductions and Group Responsibilities

– Short Grounding Exercise

– Breakout Discussions

– Large Group Discussion

– Group Feedback and Ending

Thoughts can be shared, questions asked, or you can simply listen – there is no obligation to share your experiences, should you choose not to. Anonymous feedback is always encouraged at the end of the session, so we can continuously improve the group sessions.

If you want to, you can read a blog about what it’s like to attend a Cha in the City open group here.