By Ayona Jaswal
When you’re a kid in a hospital, you quickly realize that the most expensive equipment in the building can’t solve one of the biggest problems: the weight of being bored, scared, and isolated. I know this because I lived it. I spent a significant portion of my own childhood navigating illness and sitting in those sterile rooms. While the doctors were busy treating my body, I saw that the "spirit" of the kids around me, including my own, was often being left behind.
That’s why, at 14, I founded The Kindness and Smile Zone. I wanted to build something that proved a hospital gown doesn’t have to be your whole identity.
Turning "Patients" into "Creators"
Our kindness activity packs are a huge part of creativity. We create digital resources that turn a scary, clinical environment into a space for imagination. Whether it’s through custom-designed "Kindness Cards" that kids can receive or blogs that teach them something new, we’re trying to give them back a sense of joy. When a child is creating something, they aren’t "the patient in Room 302" anymore; they’re an artist, a writer, or a designer.
The Power of the Written Word
One of the proudest moments for our team was the release of my novella, Colors of Courage. I wrote it for a friend I met during one of my hospital stays, and the message is simple: You are more than your illness. Using storytelling as a tool for advocacy has been a game-changer. It’s one thing to say "be kind," but it’s another thing to show a child, a character who looks like them, struggles like them, and ultimately wins like them. That’s the kind of creative impact we’re pushing for every single day.
Why Creativity is a "Must-Have"
Through our work, we’ve found that creative engagement is actually a necessity for children under stress. It lowers what we call the "allostatic load", the physical toll that chronic stress takes on the brain. By giving kids a creative outlet, we’re helping their brains stay resilient. We’re trying to change them from just "surviving" a medical challenge to actually growing through it.
We’re a youth-led organization, and we’re just getting started. We’re proving that with a little bit of design, a lot of dedication, and a focused mission, we can turn those silent hospital corridors into zones of kindness and smiles.
Author’s Bio:
Ayona Jaswal | Founder, Author, & Researcher
Ayona Jaswal is the 15-year-old founder of The Kindness and Smile Zone, a youth-led organization dedicated to transforming the hospital experience for children through digital educational and recreational resources. Inspired by her own journey navigating illness, Ayona launched the initiative at 14 to provide the "relational buffering" and joy she saw were missing in clinical environments.
Beyond her non-profit work, Ayona is a published author of the novella Colors of Courage, inspired by a childhood friendship made within hospital walls and a researcher focused on the intersection of neurobiology and public health. Her work, which advocates for "mental health literacy", has been featured by CBC News and recognized for its impact on pediatric advocacy. A Grade 10 student at A.B. Lucas Secondary School, Ayona balances her mission with a passion for classical dance and STEM, aiming to pursue a career in Medical Sciences to continue bridging the gap between clinical treatment and holistic well-being.
Recommended Reading: You’re More Creative Than You Think: 5 Ways to Find Your Spark
