Art for Eyes

2021 Boarding Captain Aly Sultan has developed an ingenious and altruistic way to maintain a connection to his home in Papua New Guinea.

Following in the footsteps of his businessman father and ophthalmologist mother, Aly has started a social enterprise called Envision to help reduce cataract blindness in remote PNG villages.

“Envision was my way of connecting back to Papua New Guinea as a boarder. I’m working with local artisans and providing them with a platform to share their culture through their artworks,” he said.

2021 Boarding Captain Aly Sultan

Aly has connected four or five artists with eye care shops in Port Moresby, who have donated space to show paintings and handicrafts. Proceeds are channelled into sight restoration initiatives. “We work on a ‘boomerang’ concept, where the community is helping the community and it’s completely not for profit,” he said.

“I email the artists and I visit the villages when I get home, but it works on the premise that I don’t tell them what to do; it’s about empowering them by opening up their reach. They’re very responsive to that because they know the benefits of the eye work we do. It’s definitely a mutual relationship that we work on, and I think that’s the strength of the Laila Foundation as well.”

The Laila Foundation was established by Aly’s father 20 years ago and named in honour of the sister he lost to cancer. Originally in PNG for business, Mohammad began travelling to villages on the Ramu River via a barge with an operating room, doing free screening and eye surgeries. Aly’s mother, Dr Amyna Sultan, now runs these clinics.

Aly has volunteered in these outreach programs as an interpreter. “My major role in the outreach is that I know the language of Papua New Guinea. We’re the most linguistically diverse country in the world, with 850 languages. Tok Pisin was one of my first languages, so that’s the way I can help the Laila Foundation.”

“I’ve been a translator for the locals and the overseas teams that come. I really enjoy that bit and connecting with the patients.”

“It’s very rewarding, especially with cataract surgeries. One day a patient will walk in with two people assisting them, unable to see. Then the next day, after their operation, they can walk home by themselves. It’s truly satisfying, so that’s kept me going through this initiative.”

Aly says he’s enjoyed the clubs and activities since arriving at BGS in Year 8. “I’ve wanted to do as much I can with my time here. My family has helped me understand the importance of service, and that’s definitely been inculcated in me at BGS as well.”

“Public purpose activities – even the sausage sizzles – have given me skills I can apply in running outreach camps. I really appreciate those learning experiences.”

Aly’s immediate plans are to launch an Envision website to share Papuan culture more widely. He plans to apply to 10 universities in the United States, and would like a career in corporate law, and potentially politics. “My mother attended Harvard, so I would like to follow in her footsteps – that’s always been a dream.”

Aly is emphatic when asked if he plans on making his life in Papua New Guinea.

“Absolutely. It’s my home.”