Project Work Best in Category 7 (Service Learning): Project Vision 8.0 Walking Unafraid

Written by: Tan Zheng Kai (4A3, 2026), Kenneth Toh Jia Yang (4A3, 2026), Lucas Tang Zheng Jie (4i1, 2026), Chen Xuesen Delmar (4A3, 2026), Quek Jin Shyan (4A1, 2026)  Imagine attending a dance lesson with an impaired vision, being unable to clearly see the actions performed by the instructor, unsure whether you yourself are performing the actions correctly. Imagine going on a nature walk, unable to enjoy yourself in the very nature you are surrounded by due to your impaired vision. Now imagine yourself navigating through the complex technological devices we have today, filled with scams, spams, advertisements, and multitudes of new features, without clear understanding of the apps you are clicking into, due to your impaired vision.

This gap is wide. Only about 22% of visually impaired adults meet the World Health Organization's physical activity guidelines. Fear of falling, colliding with obstacles and a lack of accessible facilities keep many at home. Research also links regular exercise to higher self-esteem among people with visual impairments, so what is at stake is confidence as well as fitness.

The gap extends to technology. About 90% of published materials are not available in accessible formats such as braille, large print or audio, and essential apps like HealthHub and Healthy365 are hard for visually impaired users to navigate. Project Vision 8.0 began with one question: how could we weave physical activity into the routines of VH people while using technology to make that change last into 2026 and beyond?

Who We Served

Our partner was the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH). We worked mainly with its White Cane Club and Skills Development Programme, whose clients are primarily elderly. A sedentary lifestyle puts them at higher risk of illness, which can lower their quality of life.

Before planning or executing anything, we knew we had to put ourselves in VI’s shoes before we could plan activities that would truly help them, and that they would be able to enjoy as well. As such, we had requested SAVH staff to train us in how to interact with visually impaired people and use VI-friendly technology, such as TalkBack features that allow VI to navigate through their phones using audio features. We also joined SAVH's own activities, including outings with its day care clients, be it bringing them to Ang Mo Kio Hub for Lunch, or even Springleaf Prata Place for a quick meal.

Eventually, through our various interactions with the VH Clients, what we learnt was that our clients did not lack ambition or curiosity. They excelled in them. They were always smiling brightly, participating actively, and sometimes even more enthusiastic than the volunteers! Ultimately, we realised that they lacked activities designed with them in mind. That shaped our approach: sessions would be built around what they enjoyed, and we would work alongside them rather than do things for them.

What We Did

Our programme was centred around 3 main goals: the first is to give VH Clients the opportunity to indulge in physical activities which were specifically designed for them to participate in. The second is organising workshops that allow them to lead better lives in this world today. The third is to raise awareness about visual impairment through education of more youths, and providing them with opportunities to step up and make a change as well.

Regarding the opportunities for physical activities, we organised a nature walk at the Botanic Gardens, where 30 students guided VH clients, followed by lunch at Adam Road Food Centre. We co-organised a chair yoga session with an external core team of five students from another school, so clients could discover a form of exercise that did not depend on sight. We also partnered with Dancepointe Academy for Active Dance Sessions. Clients learnt a customised routine, with volunteers helping to correct movements, and built up to a final performance. Later, students paired with clients on a 6km Rail Corridor walk from Buona Vista MRT to Rail Mall and explained the trail's heritage along the way.

During such activities, we often got to interact with the VH Clients on a personal level. We had the opportunity to learn about their stories, experiences, and wisdom, which was deeply insightful for us, and taught us more lessons about having to be grateful and also empathetic.

For technology, we ran workshops with SAVH's Skills Development Programme. Clients learnt to use apps such as Foodpanda, Strava and Healthy365, to pair a Health Promotion Board step tracker with them, to use AI tools with screen readers, and to spot scams. Our Infocomm Group of four Secondary 3 students also built Visionary 2.0, an app tested with clients at SAVH.

After these workshops, we found that VH Clients were very engaged in the workshops and discussions itself, constantly raising hands and answering questions posed by instructors, showing their passion for the subject at hand.

To get funding, we presented our vision to the National Youth Council and applied for up to $3,000 through the Young ChangeMakers Grant.

We gathered an organising team of 130 students from Hwa Chong and Nanyang Girls’ High School (NYGH). Around 90 volunteers went through our training sessions, where they learnt sighted guiding, the technique for walking safely alongside a VH person, and how to use TalkBack and VoiceOver, audio features which many VH clients rely on to operate their phones through audio features.

The Difference We Made

“I am very glad that students like you guys are taking the initiative to step up and participate in events like this. You guys have really put in effort to make our days better, and I really appreciate you all for this”

This was one of the best feedback we received from Mr William, a client at SAVH for over 30 years.

Ultimately, Project Vision 8.0 engaged the visually impaired community, empowered 110+ student volunteers, and raised approximately $20,000 for SAVH, while reaching 33,000+ people through our outreach efforts.

The impact we aimed for goes beyond a single outing. Regular movement builds the confidence that research links to physical activity, and the app and AI workshops help clients take part in a digital world that often overlooks them. The students who guided our clients also carry what they learnt back to the wider school community.

Project Vision 8.0 was built to last. The lesson modules, the Health and Nutrition with Technology workshops and Visionary 2.0 can be developed by Project Vision 9.0. Our new relationships with Dancepointe Academy and RoamAssist, a local start-up developing robotic guide dogs, give the next team a head start on keeping people with visual impairment active.

What We Learnt

The biggest shift was in how we saw visual impairment. We went in thinking about what our clients could not do. We came away realising that friction in our interactions usually came from our own unfamiliarity, not from their limitations. Gestures and habits we performed without thinking, such as pointing or saying "over there", could come across as inappropriate or even offensive. Learning to describe things clearly and to ask before helping was a small change that made interactions smoother and more respectful.

We also learnt that change comes through long-lasting implementation, not one-time events. A nature walk is memorable, but a client only gains confidence if the activity can be repeated and built on. This is why we focused on groundwork for Project Vision 9.0, such as reusable modules and lasting partnerships.

Finally, we learnt how much technology and human connection need each other. An app like Visionary 2.0 only works if someone sits beside the user at SAVH, listens to the frustrations and adjusts it. Equally, a guide's patience goes further when technology gives clients the independence to try things themselves.

Watching the VH community's resilience and resourcefulness changed how we think about serving others. Service is not about helping people who cannot cope. It is about removing the barriers that stop them from doing what they already want to do. If we could do the project again, we hope that we are able to start our work earlier and increase the range of target audience, so that we are able to impact more lives in our term.