Project Sunshine: coordinating monthly volunteer programs at the Montreal Children’s Hospital

Sunshine is always welcome after a long winter, especially when it comes from Project Sunshine, a non-profit organization based inToronto. For the last two years, Giuseppe D’Asti and Sunita Kheterpal have been volunteering with Project Sunshine’s Quebec chapter, coordinating monthly volunteer programs at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Volunteers transform hospital conference rooms and playrooms into a relaxing environment where caregivers receive massages from professional therapist, Jenni Lee, while Giuseppe and Sunita organize activities for patients and siblings. “We like to play educational games with the kids,” says Giuseppe, a university student who plans to pursue a career in health care. “The patients range in age, so we have a good variety of board games, plus arts and crafts.” The activities take place in the Family Resource Centre on the 5^th floor of the hospital’s C-wing. Marie-France Haineault, director of the MCH’s Child Life department, coordinates the schedule by personally inviting caregivers to participate. “The healing process of a child is different than that of an adult, because the entire family is involved,” says Giuseppe. “Through this experience I’ve noticed that when a parent feels good, their child starts to feel better too.”

 

For more information about Project Sunshine please visit www.projectsunshine.org or contact Marie-France Haineault from Child Life at 22570.

Giuseppe D’Asti (right) and Sunita Kheterpal (left).