Subscribe
  • Home
  • /
  • Business
  • /
  • BSG brightens up the walls of the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital

BSG brightens up the walls of the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital


Johannesburg, 12 Jan 2009

BSG's Social Economic Development (SED) committee had its work cut out for it when it decided to take on a three-tiered initiative at the Children's Cancer Outpatients Ward. A few weeks earlier the SED committee had already begun on the first task and requested BSGers to donate any books, clothing or toys they could spare for a “fun corner” that was to be built in the ward. As the day arrived, around 20 BSGers made their way to Bara hospital with paint and building supplies.

Initially, the impression of the hospital was quite overwhelming, mainly due to its dire condition but also its immense size. The children's cancer out-patient ward, which also takes into its care haemophiliac children, currently accommodates 15 children varying in age from newborn to young teenagers. The aim of the day, besides building shelves to house the donated items, was to paint a mural in one of the waiting-room areas to brighten up the children's everyday routine. Canvases were also brought along to keep the little people entertained.

One of the canvases, titled Tree of Hope, portrays a budding branch with little handprints sprouting out of each offshoot. Every child in the ward, that was physically able to, signed the picture with a painted hand, leaving their mark for a long time to come. This image was used on BSG's festive season card which took the form of a bookmark to help clients “find the right place this year”.

The mural turned out to be a great success with three jolly elephants in a BSG palette now lining the ward walls, adding cheer and bold colour to a persistently sombre environment.

Feedback from the young patients was extremely positive but even more so the response from BSG staff on what an incredible experience it had been to them. Lancia Richards says: “These children have encountered varying levels of pain and suffering but what really impressed me during the visit was the strength and perseverance the children exuded and the inspiration they gave back to all who participated.” Event organiser Shanice Mfeka said she was overwhelmed at the level of dedication and willingness to participate by fellow BSGers.

At the end of the day, the final results as a whole were incredibly satisfying: a larger than life, bright and beautiful mural, colourful hand-printed shelves filled with toys and books and a symbolic mural that will hopefully provide years of inspiration to the children of ward 44 at Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital but also to BSG - a company striving to be the change we wish to see in the world.

Share