Light on the Heart is a nonprofit dedicated to alleviating the struggles of marginalized communities facing poor cardiovascular treatment by providing advice to high school students on how to get involved with research; sharing insights from medical professionals; pushing for advocacy through legislation; and distributing an educational kit to teach kids about the cardiovascular system.
Ayana Bahadur, now an Acton-Boxborough Regional High School senior and author of this article, founded Light on the Heart in 2023. She states that heart disease affects people from all walks of life, so it is crucial now more than ever that we work to reduce its negative impact. When there are few researchers with marginalized identities, the concerns and issues of those populations may remain understudied and poorly understood. Ayana and Light on the Heart advocate and educate others about these disadvantages in cardiovascular research and treatment. They hope to give the next generation the tools they need to become involved in cardiovascular research and pave the way for equal care.
Ayana developed a passion for cardiology in high school. Many of her reasons for founding the non-profit came from her family history. Several times Ayana’s grandmother went to her physician and complained of chest pain, and several times they misdiagnosed her. After losing her Dadimi (grandmother), Ayana channeled her grief into action to create an educational kit called the Little Hearts Science Crate.
The Little Hearts Science Crate for kids
The Little Hearts Science Crate is a cardiology-based kit for kids, part of Ayana’s initiative to create a heart-healthy future for all. The kits contain four different activities: a lab that teaches about blood types; building a clay model of the heart; making a stethoscope from tubing, funnels, and balloons; and a board game that teaches about circulation. The kits also include stress toys and stickers. Ayana says that some people ask if they can purchase the kits, but the organization hasn’t yet added that option.
Learning about the heart at a young age is crucial, Ayana stresses, as research shows that increased awareness of cardiovascular risk factors greatly reduces the chance of getting such factors when one is older. The Little Hearts Science Crate aims to expose kids to STEM through hands-on learning and possible pathways to explore in high school and beyond. Ayana wanted to create an open-ended activity unlike most formal learning resources in school settings. The kit utilizes a creative approach, combining science, research, advocacy, and art to help kids find who they are.
Light on the Heart initiatives
With a $2,000 grant from Fetch, a youth organization, and mentorship from Danny’s Place UProject, Light on the Heart has hosted kit distribution events, led science experiments with over sixty families, and spoken on local news channels. “My grandmother taught me that proactive compassion truly does go a long way,” Ayana says.
The first distribution event was In November, 2024. With a showing of over twenty families, 25 kits were distributed to kids in the Acton-Boxborough School District. Families posted pictures of their kids engaging with the kits and shared their experiences on the Light on the Heart website platform. Since then, the group has held distribution events at a few churches and mosques, and is planning one at the Acton Memorial Library this summer.
Quality education breaks the cycle of poverty, but the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly slowed progress toward this endeavor. Although Acton, Massachusetts, is relatively affluent, 6.1% of AB School District’s students qualify for free or reduced-cost benefits based on their family income level. Ayana addresses the economic inequity barrier to education by making the kits free of cost and accessible to students with fewer resources.
One of Light on the Heart’s missions is to lighten students’ heavy load on their hearts by making their lives easier. From tips and tricks from a high schooler who has experienced the process of finding a research opportunity, Light on the Heart will help students in that process and provide insight from STEM professionals on how they should best spend their quick years in high school. They help younger students find their passions in STEM and beyond.
Kaeleigh De Silva, the Danny’s Place Activities coordinator, says “The Little Hearts Science Crate embodies what the hope and vision of UProject has always been – a heart-centered passion project where young people in our community can leave a lasting impact grounded in the spark that promises to continue guiding them beyond their time with us. Ayana exemplifies the type of student worthy and deserving of the opportunity to gain mentorship and funding, and it was both a pleasure and honor to witness her growth throughout this journey. From the moment she began, she had everything she already needed, and guiding her was simply a matter of reflecting back her own gifts and light.”
How you can help
Ayana hopes to create thousands of Little Hearts Science Crate kits to distribute to kids worldwide and make them accessible in more languages. With additional grant funds, she will add new experiments to the kit, utilize feedback, and impact as many people as possible. Distribution will expand to the Acton Resource Center, local libraries, and places of worship. “The volunteers, the kids, the families, the teachers— everyone who worked with me–showed the power of proactive compassion, just like taking care of the heart,” Ayana says. “Let’s change hearts together.”
The website is lightontheheart.org. Instagram: @light.on.the.heart. Email inquiries to lightontheheart@gmail.com.
Ayana Bahadur is a senior at Acton Boxborough Regional High School and the founder of LIght on the Heart.