At rainbow bay, education equals hope for kids
Print Edition
BEING hospitalized for an extended period of time is hard on anybody.
There’s the diseases itself that patients are struggling with, the boredom, and the fact that they are being cut off from everyday life.
For children, it’s particularly hard — unable to go to school and see their friends, and they fear that they will lag behind. With the recent launch of the “rainbow bay” the Shanghai Children’s Hospital now offers a solution.
In collaboration with Changfeng Education of Putuo District, the hospital established a school inside the ward.
The local government and enterprises have donated batches of books and school bags to equip the classroom, and teachers from 12 nearby schools are volunteering to give different courses in the ward every Tuesday, which reduces the academic gap between patients and their classmates.
“Before the launch of the ward school, a lot of young patients who didn’t have much chance to practice their abilities in language and interpersonal communication,” says Niu Jun, an official from the Shanghai Children’s Hospital. “It would be hard for them to get accustomed to school life after recovery.”
The school’s name, “rainbow bay” is meant to conveys the organizers’ wish for little patients to once again see hope in spite of their condition.
Officials from No. 4 Secondary School Attached to East China Normal University say that each school in Putuo’s Changfeng area is engaged in the voluntary work of the hospital’s school.
So far, the voluntary team counts around 100 veteran teachers who will teach patients of different age groups, from preschoolers to primary school students and middle school students.
The curriculum covers mathematics, language, science and art. Experts will also provide psychological counseling and assistance for the children. In their leisure time, the classroom also provides a space for children to draw, paint or color, build clay sculptures, play music or read.
Currently patients benefiting from the “rainbow bay” program are mainly those who suffer from cancer and kidney diseases, but organizers are planning to soon serve a wider range of patients.
During a recent visit, a six-year-old patient yelled out loud how much he loves to paint and play with the teachers in the ward. His parents extended their gratitude, and recalled how their child used to cry and scream a lot. Being able to take lessons have made the child happier and once again excited about life.
Organizers said that, based on feedback from the children and their parents, they plan to update and improve the curriculum to meet everybody’s needs. Some children will also receive tailor-made mentoring from the professionals.
Volunteer teams in Putuo are active in many areas. In the past few years, Putuo Central Hospital has made big progress in the development of its volunteer base.
The base, which was set up in 2013, has received a lot of awards for its efforts. It has recently been honored as one of Shanghai’s top 10 volunteer communities.
Every year, the base receives around 300,000 yuan (US$46,000) in financial support from the hospital for its day-to-day operations. Volunteers from neighboring schools and enterprises can apply for one of the volunteer programs in the hospital through the base’s own public WeChat account. Each volunteer will also receive special training, and their work will be evaluated based on feedback.
Local middle school students, magicians and music lovers frequently volunteer to bring joy to patients by caring for them or by presenting light-hearted acts.
Recently, arts and handicraft were sold at a charity bazaar by teachers from Putuo, hosted at IMAGO Mall. Teachers brought their paintings, calligraphy and handmade items to the bazaar, and the proceeds of more than 6,000 yuan were donated to the students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
In addition to the bazaar, veteran teachers also held educational counseling for parents. Later this year, public lectures and educational exchanges will be hosted for parents.
In many of Putuo’s communities, volunteers are also lending a helping hand to needy people and their families.
The Lark Bird volunteer group, based in the Caoyang area, has encouraged members with medical expertise to offer health-care consultations, lectures and treatment to elderly residents.
Currently, the group has more than 9,600 registered volunteers, with a diverse set of talents and skills. With their volunteer work, they cover a wide range of functions and services in the community, including mediation for family disputes and legal counseling.
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