‘The Joy Cart’ at the Oncology Centre in Tashkent
'The Joy Cart' initiative in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in March 2026 | Photographer: Ekaterina Nazarenko, PACED
On 8 March, International Women’s Day, a charity initiative called ‘The Joy Cart’ took place at the Centre of Oncology and Radiology of Uzbekistan. Ekaterina Nazarenko from the PACED team visited the centre and spoke with Kamilla Turakhodzhaeva, an oncology psychologist and one of the initiative's organisers.
‘The Joy Cart' is a charitable initiative. On special occasions, volunteers visit hospital wards with a cart filled with fruit, sweets, drinks, and small gifts. They enter patients' rooms, wish them well for the holiday, offer treats for them to choose, and simply spend time chatting with them.
According to Kamilla, the primary aim of the initiative is not the gifts themselves.
‘The point of the cart is not the treats, but the human contact, support, and the feeling that a person is not alone,’ she says.
According to Kamilla, the primary aim of the initiative is not the gifts themselves.
‘The point of the cart is not the treats, but the human contact, support, and the feeling that a person is not alone,’ she says.
Kamilla Turakhodzhaeva, March 2026 | Photographer: Ekaterina Nazarenko, PACED
The tradition began three years ago with the volunteer group Power of Kindness. Initially, ‘The Joy Cart’ was organised only for New Year celebrations, but over time, volunteers decided to hold similar events for other holidays as well.
'The Joy Cart' initiative in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in March 2026 | Photographer: Ekaterina Nazarenko, PACED
The idea was inspired by the First Moscow Hospice. Similar initiatives exist in many countries and help create a supportive environment in hospitals, enabling patients and their families to feel cared for, receive attention, and enjoy a brief respite from treatment.
Similar initiatives in other hospices. Photos: Courtesy Felix Pinto Bakeriso, PACED
Volunteers from Power of Kindness come from various professions and age groups. Some assist with gathering food and small gifts, others prepare and pack the treats, and some visit the wards to speak with patients.
This time, social media support played a notable role. Kamilla posted a call for donations on her blog and received an unexpectedly strong response.
This time, social media support played a notable role. Kamilla posted a call for donations on her blog and received an unexpectedly strong response.
‘People started messaging me asking, ‘What can we bring?’ and then one delivery after another started arriving with a lot of gifts and treats,’ she recalls.
'The Joy Cart' initiative in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in March 2026 | Photographer: Ekaterina Nazarenko, PACED
Thanks to this support, women across seven departments of the centre got their gifts.
Patients’ responses to ‘The Joy Cart’ were consistently warm.
Patients’ responses to ‘The Joy Cart’ were consistently warm.
‘At first, people are surprised—you rarely expect a celebration in a hospital. But then they start smiling, sharing their stories, and thanking us. It is for these genuine emotions that we continue organising ‘The Joy Cart.’ Sometimes even a small gesture of kindness can give someone a sense of warmth and remind them that they matter,’ Kamilla says.
'The Joy Cart' initiative in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in March 2026 | Photographer: Ekaterina Nazarenko, PACED
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