A programme called “Women Infant Children” will strive to bring a smile to the faces of children admitted at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital at Motootua.

The brainchild of not-for-profit organisation, Brown Girl Woke [B.G.W.], young children currently admitted at the hospital will be presented with toys and basic baby necessities with a B.G.W. cast also singing selected songs for them.

B.G.W. founder and President, Maluseu Doris Tulifau, told the Samoa Observer in a telephone interview that they realised during the state of emergency [S.O.E.] that they can do more for the sick children.

"Helping with groceries and visiting families to give hope. Also helping our babies during this time when diapers are really expensive and if the babies are sick in the hospital that might mean their parents also can’t work," she said.

"Our B.G.W. local talent kids enjoy giving back by using their talent and the families and babies enjoy music and a little sense of hope that we can bring.

"We started this project last month by watching Dora from Milani give cupcakes each month for the babies and asked if they could come along and sing and bring toys for the babies as well."

Maluseu revealed that the first time they visited the children at the hospital to present gifts and sing songs, their families were shocked at the gesture. 

"All the families were crying, they didn’t want us to leave. We also gave a gift of toys and diapers to some of the families so we wanted to do it every month," she added.

The hospital-focused program will also enable BGW members to use their talents and give back to the community, according to Maluseu, who emphasised that the significance of visiting the hospital on Sunday is to sing church hymns to the families.

“We did it last month and it was amazing. I think we sang for an hour and then we went to each room and sang to each of the kids.

"Everyone felt the energy and the hope for the children and their families."

She added that the experience was also an eye opening for the youth to understand that there are many children who are hospitalised.

"Even for me, I didn't know there were that many kids in the hospital and we met the parents and they were telling us about the disease their children had,” she expressed. 

The B.G.W. program will be done every third Sunday of the month with members of the organisation presenting gifts and making donations to the children and their families.