18
UWI TODAY
– SUNDAY 23 APRIL, 2017
FEATURE
A hospital ward is not a fun place
, especially for children.
At the pediatric ward of the EricWilliams Medical Sciences
Complex in Mt. Hope, however, a group of UWI students
have selflessly donated their time, effort and creativity to
bring joy into the lives of the young patients. They have
transformed one of the wards into a fantastical landscape,
an otherworldly realm of planets, stars and spaceships for
the children’s enjoyment.
They refer to it as the “Star Ward”.
“We did it for the kids. And when we do another ward
it will be for the kids again,” says Vishal Bachan, a third-year
student in the Faculty of Medical Sciences.
Vishal is the Project Manager of the Art Society of Mt.
Hope, a group of remarkable students from the Medical
Faculty who have turned their love for art into flourishing
events and charitable acts. The refurbishment of the ward,
PaediatricMed 1, is their biggest charitable initiative yet and
a testament to their hard work and perseverance.
“The ward project was done mainly at nights, on Friday
nights or weekend nights,” says Vishal, who describes
himself as a “handyman.” The work included cleaning and
painting the walls, the installation of custom-made decals,
the cleaning of the playroom and redecoration with new
tables, new curtains, new toys and the creation of a huge
mural occupying an entire wall. It was four nights work in
total, from6pm to 2am, stretched over six weeks because the
students had to work around their class and study schedules.
The project was funded entirely by the Art Society, using
proceeds from its popular Art Gala and Human Art Project
events. In an earlier issue, “UWI TODAY” covered the
inspiring story of the Society’s growth from a small student
group to hosts of a well-regarded art exhibition that was held
this year at the National Academy of the Performing Arts
(see
/
article16.asp).
Apart from the time, labour and resources invested by
the students, who also have to contend with their exacting
courses of study, the Society had to overcome the many
administrative and bureaucratic hurdles involved in the
project. Sofiya Barrow, Past President of the Society and one
of the major forces behind bringing the project to fruition,
said it was a challenge.
“There were so many odds against us and many times
people advised me not to waste my tenure trying to make
it happen but to do something else with the money. Getting
approved for this project was like a shot in the dark.”
The initial idea for the transformation of the ward came
fromDr. Srikanth Rao Venkata, founder and first president
of the Art Society. It has taken years for it to become reality,
finally coming to fruition under current president Jonathan
Edwards.
“Each Art Society president played a crucial role in this
very long process,” Sofiya says, “from building the Society
itself to forming the charity, to funding, to approval and
getting organised, to finally executing it.”
Now that the work is complete, the Society members
are pleased.
“Renovating this ward has made both Mt. Hope and
national history,” Sofiya says. “No other groups in school
have ventured to do such a thing on their own.”
The completed project attracted the interest of hospital
officials, Medical Faculty members and the media at the
grand opening in mid-March. But for Society members
like Vishal, it is the children’s response that matters most.
“They loved it,” he said. “When we were working the
majority of parents were very supportive and showed great
admiration that we were spending the time to do it. The
nurses on the ward were especially grateful for the facelift.
And they were amazingly accommodating and supportive
during this venture.”
Vishal also had some advice for people who wish to
make a difference in society, especially at a time when so
much seems to be going so wrong:
“Open your eyes and look around, see what is there
to be done and do it. Get together with some friends and
make your goal a reality. This project took very long before
it could be started but we never gave up. It wasn’t easy, it
wasn’t cheap and it was difficult to find the time, but we did
it. Anyone who wants to do their own project should adopt
the same policy. Look at what needs to be done and do it.
Because if one child looks at a decal, or one child looks at
our mural and smiles, feels better or stops crying, that makes
the project worth it.”
Young healers: Members of the Art Society of Mt. Hope speak to the
press, from left: Anthony Mansoor, Sofiya Barrow (past president),
Jonathan Edwards (president) and Vishal Bachan (project manager).
PHOTOS COURTESY THE ART SOCIETY OF MT. HOPE
AWarm Place in
OUTER SPACE
B Y J O E L H E N R Y
