01 Discovery
The universe belongs to them, too.
Binoculars, books, and astronomy presentations turn a glance at the night sky into a new way of seeing what’s possible.
Women In Science for HopeTrinidad & Tobago
Science opensa child’s world.
A first look through binoculars. A book to call their own. Someone who believes in them.
Hover to look closer · Click the sky to make a wishTap the sky to make a wish
10°39′N 61°31′W
ScienceMentorshipOpportunityCommunityCuriosityWonderHopeScienceMentorshipOpportunityCommunityCuriosityWonderHope
The foundationEst. December 2020
Every child deserves the chance to discover what they can become.
W.I.S.H. means Women In Science for Hope, a foundation built on the idea that opportunity can begin with one person choosing to open a door.
Formed in December 2020 and incorporated as a nonprofit in 2021, WISH supports children who have not had the same opportunities as others through mentorship, practical care, and access to science and technology.
- Mentorship
- Access to science
- Girls in STEM
- Practical care
The story so far.
2020 to 2026 · with sources
- 2020
Prof. Shirin Haque founds Women In Science for Hope.
Founding profile ↗ - 2021
WISH joins UWI’s Volunteer Open Day as a community organisation.
UWI event ↗ - 2022
A €4,000 IAU grant launches the “Our Caribbean Sky” project.
Grant details ↗ - 2023
A WGAP grant brings binocular astronomy to children’s homes.
WGAP project ↗ - 2024
UWI honours WISH for Most Impactful Community Research.
Award release ↗ - 2025
WISH publishes its health and wellness edition for young readers.
Read the issue ↗ - 2026
The mission continues through a UWI forum on women in astronomy.
UWI event ↗
ImpactLittle acts, lasting change
This is what hope looks like.
A park to play in. A moon to marvel at. A reminder that somebody cares. Real moments from the work we do.
Case no. 01 · Swaha Vishok Bhavan Children’s Home
A fresh coat of paint. A new world of joy.
An unused play park became a place for laughter again. Our volunteers repaired, painted, and brought it back to life.
02 Everyday kindness
Sometimes, hope arrives in a hamper.
Groceries, toiletries, school supplies, and Christmas gifts. The practical things that make a very human difference.
Out in the community.
Deliveries, drives, booths and good company. A year of WISH, from the activity pages of our August 2026 magazine.
The WISH family, together
Welcoming Rainbow Rescue
A thank-you, shared
Supplies for the homes
Boxes packed and ready
Christmas giving
A table full of kindness
Friends of WISH
A new bicycle for Amica House
Delivering to Amica House
An evening out together
The WISH booth
Essentials, sorted and shared
Fundraising at the market
Toys and games for the children
Stocking the pantry
Gifts delivered with care
The homes we work with
- Amica House
- Christ Child Convalescent Home
- Islamic Home for Children
- Swaha Vishok Bhavan Children’s Home
- Rainbow RescueNew
Back-to-school drive
Now an annual event the homes count on
Annual fundraiser
Museum tours, Tea & Talks and a planetarium show
Market booths
Sharing WISH at UWI markets
Plus ad hoc support for families in need, including a community in Penal.
A year of showing upFive seasons of care
Kindness has a rhythm.
We keep showing up, season after season. Follow the Earth around a WISH year and choose a moment on its orbit.
04 / 05 · September
Science Month
Bringing books, posters, science kits, astronomy presentations, binoculars, planispheres, and sundials closer to children.
Our annual rhythm, as shared in the WISH magazines.
GatheringsTrinidad & Tobago · AST
A reason to gather.
Good company and interesting conversations, with every ticket supporting the work we do for children in our community.
Coming up
- 04
- Days
- 17
- Hrs
- 04
- Min
Tea & Talk Fundraiser
Perils of Modern Healthcare
An afternoon of tea and conversation on modern healthcare, featuring a musical interlude by our guest speaker.
- Guest speaker
- Prof. Hariharan SeetharamanProfessor of Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine and Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies.
- Where
- Pax Tea HouseMt. St. Benedict
- Tickets
- $150per person
View poster The reading room6 editions · free to read
WISH Upon A Star.
Made for curious minds. Our annual magazine brings science, stories, puzzles and a little bit of home to every reader. Every issue is free.
Issue 06 · August 2026Latest
The environment
Dr. Dingolay explores the world around us: endangered local species, backyard biodiversity, a journey through the solar system and the land of the dinosaurs. Plus, a feature interview with marine researcher Seth Aqui.
- Environmentally sensitive species
- Feature interview: Seth Aqui
- Journey through the solar system
Browse all free science magazines
WISH Upon A Star 2026: The environment
Dr. Dingolay explores the world around us: endangered local species, backyard biodiversity, a journey through the solar system and the land of the dinosaurs. Plus, a feature interview with marine researcher Seth Aqui.
24 pages · PDF · 9.0 MBWISH Upon A Star 2025: Health & wellness
What makes us feel good? Explore the connections between our bodies, our minds, and the world around us in our fifth anniversary edition.
24 pages · PDF · 7.8 MBWISH Upon A Star 2024: Nature
Take a closer look at the outdoors, from butterflies and green spaces to the secrets of the forest. With art, puzzles, and poems by children in the homes we support.
28 pages · PDF · 10.9 MBWISH Upon A Star 2023: The future
Join Dr. Dingolay on a journey into tomorrow. Discover space, data science, the changing world of work, and the story of a play park brought back to life.
24 pages · PDF · 13.7 MBWISH Upon A Star 2022: Trinidad & Tobago
A whole world of science, right here at home. Meet the Trinidadian guppy, discover mud volcanoes, and explore the natural treasures of Tobago.
28 pages · PDF · 9.3 MBWISH Upon A Star 2021: Where it all began
Our very first edition, made for curious children and the young at heart. Science experiments, hummingbirds, mathematics, origami, and journeys to other worlds.
28 pages · PDF · 12.9 MB
Created by the WISH community · Edited by Prof. Shirin Haque · Shared with everyone
A scientist · A mentor · A believer
The belief that started it all
“No child must be left behind!”
Science opens doors. But it takes people to hold them open. That belief is at the heart of WISH, and of the volunteers and well-wishers who make this work possible.
Prof. Shirin Haque
Founder & CEO · Professor of Astronomy, UWI
The peopleExecutive team
Small team. Extraordinary heart.
Scientists, an architect, a teacher and a physicist, joined by a wider circle of people giving their time and talent.
Founder / CEO
Prof. Shirin Haque
Professor of Astronomy
Treasurer
Deva Sharma
Architect
Secretary
Darnelle Hamilton
Science Teacher
Public Relations Officer
Bhanumattee Ramdhanie
Analytical chemist · UWI MPhil research student
Executive Assistant
Dev Singh
Physics graduate, UWI · Science & language outreach
With gratitude to our past supporters
- Republic Bank
- ANSA Coatings
- Massy Stores
- X-tra Foods
- Tru-Valu
- National Flour Mills
- Jo-Sing
- Naisa Products
Acknowledged in WISH Upon A Star · 2023 ↗
Support through the years
As recorded in our magazines. Some issues look back on the year before.
2026Fundraising, community support & magazine contributors3 entries
The WISH donor and volunteer community
The editorial and team introduction thank the foundation’s wider base for supporting the children’s homes and community outreach. Individual donors are not named.
SourceFundraising speakers & venues
The editorial recalls Dr. Ryan Mohammed’s 2025 Tea and Talk at Pax tea house and a 2025 planetarium show at SBCS, Champ Fleurs. It announces a 2026 talk with Prof. Hariharan Seetharaman. These are event roles; the magazine does not identify the venues as donors.
SourceMagazine production
Editor-in-chief: Prof. Shirin Haque. Editorial team: Farishta Copilah, Sharmin Haque, Che Pohlmann and Deva Sharma. Illustration: Sreedevi Dhawalaghar. Layout and design: Gabrielle Motilal.
Source
2025Community generosity, the first fundraiser & magazine contributors2 entries
The WISH supporter community
The editorial thanks the membership and supporters, and reports the inaugural November 2024 fundraiser: a lecture followed by a tour of UWI’s Life Sciences Museum. It does not name additional corporate donors.
SourceMagazine production
Editor-in-chief: Prof. Shirin Haque. Consultant: Deva Sharma. Copy-editor: Sharmin Haque. Layout and design: Gabrielle Motilal and Chelsea Basdeo. Illustration and cover artwork: Farishta Copilah.
Source
2024Astronomy outreach & creative contributions3 entries
Women and Girls Astronomy Program (WGAP)
The editorial reports the outreach made possible by the earlier binocular grant: astronomy presentations, binoculars, books, posters, planispheres and sundials for the homes.
SourceVolunteer writers, artists & young poets
The editorial credits volunteers for the articles, puzzles, art and story, and celebrates poems contributed by children living in the homes.
SourceMagazine production
Editor-in-chief: Prof. Shirin Haque. Editorial team: Deva Sharma, Sharmin Haque and Farishta Copilah. Puzzles: Suriya Ramnarine. Illustration: Kaylan-Marie Achong. Layout and design: Chelsea Basdeo.
Source
2023Corporate support, astronomy grants & the play park8 entries
Corporate supporters
Republic Bank, ANSA Coatings, Massy Stores, X-tra Foods, Tru-Valu, National Flour Mills, Jo-Sing and Naisa Products are explicitly acknowledged.
SourceIAU Office of Astronomy Outreach
A 2022 grant supported Our Caribbean Sky books, posters and astronomy kits.
SourceNA-ROAD’s Women and Girls in Astronomy Program
Supported the 2023 project bringing binoculars, planispheres and books to children’s homes with girls.
SourceHeising-Simons Foundation
Acknowledged alongside NA-ROAD for supporting the 2023 astronomy project.
SourceCarolyn Ali
Donated copies of her novella to the children’s homes, as reported in 2023.
SourceRay Jacob and his daughter RayAnn
Helped bring the children’s play park restoration to completion in 2023.
SourceANSA Coatings: play park restoration
The play park feature thanks ANSA Coatings for donated paint and staff support.
SourceMagazine production
Editor-in-chief: Prof. Shirin Haque. Editorial team: Sharmin Haque, Darnelle Hamilton, Bhanumattee Ramdhanie and Deva Sharma. Illustration: Kaylan-Marie Achong. Layout and design: Gabrielle Motilal.
Source
2022Tutoring, school supplies & astronomy resources4 entries
Upper Level School
The editorial explicitly thanks the school for partnering on lessons for the children and for being a major supporter of other drives.
SourceInternational Astronomical Union (IAU)
The editorial describes IAU support for planned science kits, local astrophotography posters and an astronomy book.
SourceRepublic Bank
Partnered on the distribution of lunch kits and pencil cases in 2022, as reported in the 2023 issue.
SourceMagazine production
Editor-in-chief: Prof. Shirin Haque. Editorial team: Darnelle Hamilton and Bhanumattee Ramdhanie. Illustration: Kaylan-Marie Achong and Daena Boodoo. Layout and design: Gabrielle Motilal.
Source
2021The founding volunteer community2 entries
Founding members & volunteers
The first editorial describes university students and other members joining after WISH’s formation in December 2020. It credits the magazine to volunteer effort and thanks everyone who supported the early initiatives.
SourceMagazine production
Editor-in-chief: Dr. Shirin Haque. Editorial team: Natasha Thurab, Michelle Siewah, Darnelle Hamilton and Bhanumattee Ramdhanie. Illustration: Shinara Jaglal and Kaylan-Marie Achong. Layout and design: Gabrielle Motilal.
Source
Get involvedThere’s a place for you here
Be someone’s little bit of wonder.
- 1
Volunteer
Lend a hand at a drive, a talk, a park restoration or Science Month.
- 2
Donate supplies
Books, science kits, toiletries, groceries, Christmas gifts. It all reaches a child.
- 3
Partner with us
Businesses and institutions help WISH reach further, every season.
It begins with hello.