The Incan National Cancer Institute (Incan) in Paraguay held a special gardening competition to bring hope and joy to its patients. This event, in which all departments participated, was more than just a contest; it became an opportunity to revitalize the stark hospital environment and heal the hearts of the patients.
The origin of this competition stems from a disappointing experience 17 years ago when a similar gardening competition was first proposed but never came to fruition. Ms. María Asunción Alonso de Franco, who was a participant back then, recently received the proposal to hold the competition again. She enthusiastically accepted the idea and, with the agreement of Director Zully Nogera, proceeded to organize the event. Out of a total of 36 departments, 24 participated, creating 24 garden plots.
The participants actively used recycled materials to decorate their gardens. Discarded items such as test tubes, detergent containers, and bricks were reborn as beautiful parts of the gardens. The flowers and plants were purchased by the staff at their own expense or provided with the help of the hospital's gardener. Everyone poured their passion into tending to the gardens, even after work hours in the evening.
The Power of Flowers, a Comfort to All
Throughout the competition, the hospital was filled with flowers and green plants. This transformation brought the greatest joy to the patients. Patients exclaimed, "The garden is so beautiful. It's a pleasure to be in the hospital," and one French patient expressed her satisfaction, saying, "It feels like I'm in France."
Ms. María Asunción, who has worked at the hospital for 38 years, was deeply moved, saying it was the first time the hospital had been so full of flowers. She emphasized that this competition was not about winning but about awakening a sense of belonging and love for the hospital among the staff.
The judging panel consisted of an architect, a city councilor, and an educator, and for fairness, the final results were reviewed by three unions. After a fierce competition, the Radiology Department took first place, the Laboratory came in second, and the Administration Department came in third. Regardless of their ranking, all participating departments received a souvenir.
A Beautiful Wave Spreading Hope
The gardening competition successfully concluded under the slogan, "Together, let's make Incan a more beautiful and hopeful place." Ms. María Asunción expressed her hope that this activity would spread not only to the hospital but also to other public institutions. She believes that the beauty of nature has the power to heal the human spirit and bring hope.
The beautiful gardens created through this competition will continue to be maintained by each department, fostering the seeds of hope. The Incan National Cancer Institute, filled with flowers, is truly becoming a 'space for healing' for both patients and staff.
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