University students bring smiles to children with cancer

Children and students sitting in room of Tawam Hospital Children suffering from cancer spent some precious moments yesterday with a group of university students who sat and read them wonderful stories. Sitting in a colourfully decorated room of Tawam Hospital, the children were soon lost in the a world of their own, their agonising suffering forgotten. "It was a great opportunity to bring smiles to their faces and to experience how they feel,” said Fatima Al Ka'abi, Aisha Al Shehhi, and Mariam Al Yamahi from UAE University (UAEU).
The Emirati story tellers, who were from the College of Education, were participating in a community outreach initiative organised in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and Tawam Hospital.
The initiative is a part of the Al Ain Reads book show currently taking place at the Al Ain Convention Centre.
The students, who visited the children under treatment at the oncology department of Tawam Hospital, read stories to them in an attempt to help them share the atmosphere of the event.
Dr Najwa Al Hosani, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Alumni Support in the College of Education, said that her college participates in the book show every year. "But this year we decided to reach out to the community in a different way, by sharing the joy of reading books with those children who were unable to attend this event as a result of their illness,” she said.
She said: "We wanted to bring a smile to their faces and to show them that their community isn't neglecting them.”
The students also expressed their delight in being involved in the initiative. The initiative gave them an opportunity to apply what they had studied, as well as to participate in promoting the importance of reading to the community, they said.
"Days like this put things into perspective, and make you think about those less fortunate and how you can help,” said the students.
The children's parents also expressed their happiness.
The father of a child, Samar Mohammad, said: "That was a nice gesture of the UAEU, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and Tawam Hospital towards the children.”
Sumaya Al Harasi, Manager Marketing and Business Communications at Tawam Hospital, also spoke on the occasion, saying that the treatment of cancer patients is very important, especially if the patient is a child who is unaware of the consequences of this disease.
"Even the smallest gestures can bring a lot of happiness to these children and help them to forget their illness, even if it is just for a short period,” she added.
Source: Gulf News