It Takes A Village to Drive Change

What happens when you build a safe space for persons with disabilities to be able to learn, work and play? You create a space for innovation; a space for opportunities; a space to find solutions to create a more inclusive society. That is the Enabling Village.

Three initiatives that took root in the lush surroundings of the Village exemplified the community’s commitment to inclusion: 

• ActiveSG’s first inclusive gym broke new ground in adaptive fitness
• Kindle Garden became the nation’s first inclusive preschool, where children of all abilities learned side by side
• Stroke Support Station (S3) as the first dedicated rehabilitation and wellness centre for stroke survivors

 

Breaking Barriers in Fitness

The ActiveSG gym at Enabling Village emerged from a simple yet revolutionary idea: fitness should be accessible to everyone, regardless of ability. When ActiveSG sought to develop inclusive gyms as part of the Disability Sports Master Plan, the synergy with Enabling Village’s mission was natural.

Mr Kerk Kim Por, Division Head of Sport Development at Sport Singapore, shares more:

“The inclusive gym is commonly visited by both people with and without disabilities, and it is common to see both groups working out side by side. The proximity helps to foster greater interaction and deeper understanding between the different groups.”

ActiveSG tapped on SG Enable’s expertise, and worked with other social service agencies based at the Village to offer adaptive fitness programmes. The impact extended beyond shared workout spaces. Real friendships formed between users with and without disabilities, with connections that stretched beyond the gym walls to meals and social gatherings. Sport Champions (ActiveSG staff at the gym) became familiar faces to regular users with disabilities, providing personalised assistance and support.

For users like Mr Chong Siew Thong, a stroke survivor who frequents the gym, the benefits extend beyond physical fitness. 

“It boosts my mental resistance to all matters in life. Training here gave me a goal and target to achieve, step by step—not big targets, but achievable weekly goals.”

The gym also became a sharing ground where staff learned to support users with mobility challenges, engage with stroke patients who might have speech impairments, and ensure safety while maintaining dignity and independence. These lessons would prove invaluable as the model expanded.

 

Nurturing Young Minds Together

While ActiveSG was working towards encouraging fitness for adults of all abilities, another first was taking shape for Singapore’s young learners. In 2016, with support from the Lien Foundation, Kindle Garden by AWWA opened as Singapore’s first inclusive preschool. The vision was clear: create a space where children of all abilities could grow and thrive.

“A vital starting point of an inclusive society is inclusive education,” explains Lee Lee. “When children of all abilities are nurtured and learn together, they develop empathy, compassion, and respect for diversity from an early age.”

Kindle Garden’s approach was both intentional and innovative. With low teacher-to-child ratios and small class sizes, educators could provide personalised attention while designing lessons that incorporated peer learning and cooperative play. Teachers worked closely with AWWA’s allied health professionals and early intervention specialists, creating individualised learning plans that unlocked each child’s potential, underpinned by a robust and well-rounded pedagogy.

The location within Enabling Village reinforced learning. Children explored the lush, green surroundings while being immersed in an environment that normalised diversity and celebrated inclusion.

The benefits can be seen in the children who naturally developed empathy, patience, and social awareness, while receiving a strong academic foundation. They also learned to communicate more effectively, adapt to different social situations, and collaborate thoughtfully. 

“Inclusive environments offer rich learning opportunities for all children, especially during their formative years,” Lee Lee notes. “Exposure to diverse ways of thinking encourages cognitive flexibility and supports the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.”

In a bid to build capability across the Early Childhood sector, Kindle Garden introduced the AWWA Inclusion Experts Series in 2018. These expert-led sessions bring together renowned practitioners and thought leaders from Singapore and beyond, to explore diverse topics and share strategies on shaping inclusive environments. To date, over 20 of such sessions have taken place, with the participation of thousands of educators and practitioners alike.

The success of Kindle Garden has attracted attention from fellow educators and international visitors, who have come for learning journeys and knowledge exchanges. Mainstream schools also visited to understand the model, leading to partnerships with the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) and broader conversations about inclusive education.

 

New Approaches to Stroke Recovery

When S3 started at the Enabling Village, its 1,000-square feet space was focused on wellness. They saw an immediate need to support stroke patients in their rehabilitation and soon expanded their space. Since its inception, S3 has helped over 400 stroke survivors and close to 430 caregivers. 

What makes S3 unique is its holistic approach. Beyond traditional rehabilitation, it created a community where stroke survivors could find hope and motivation. For Jason Low, an active rehabilitation client, the transformation began immediately:

“From the first day of joining S3, when I saw other stroke survivors walking without walking aids, it was very motivating and encouraging.”

The centre’s commitment to innovation led to the creation of the S3 Innovation Lab — a dedicated space where social innovators, stroke survivors, and clinicians collaborate to develop tailored solutions.

“We are committed to exploring, testing, and refining solutions that enable stroke survivors to live more independently and confidently,” explains Shi Min. “By fostering a collaborative ecosystem of stroke survivors, innovators, and clinicians, we are shaping a future where recovery goes beyond rehabilitation—it leads to renewed possibilities in daily life.”

 

From Prototype to Progress

Each of these initiatives has become a catalyst for change, proving that small-scale innovation could drive transformation on a larger scale.

SportSG’s experience at the Enabling Village gym became the foundation for a nationwide initiative where by 2026, all ActiveSG gyms will be inclusive. Staff who learned how to support the community at its Enabling Village location will continue to support the wider rollout.

“Many from the team there have gone on to support the development of other inclusive ActiveSG gyms, sharing their knowledge with their colleagues,” explains Mr Kerk. The results speak volumes: sport participation among people with disabilities increased from 28% in 2015 to 46% in 2023.

For Kindle Garden, it has set up a training lab that helps to upskill educators across the preschool sector in inclusive practices, regularly hosting learning journeys and knowledge exchanges with fellow educators and international visitors. This has enabled new preschools to welcome children with different learning needs, expanding access to inclusive early childhood education across the nation.

S3’s model is also going places. The Adaptive Gym at AMK Hub will offer specialised stroke rehabilitation equipment with commercial gym equipment that comes with adaptive features when it opens in Q1 2026. S3 Centre at Jurong Point provides holistic, person-centered rehabilitation and wellness programmes. Meanwhile, S3 Active Ageing Centre at Jurong West serves as a community drop-in centre supporting over 2,000 seniors.

 

Looking Ahead: The Next Wave of Initiatives

As Enabling Village celebrates its 10th anniversary, the spirit of innovation continues to drive new pilot programmes. 

The establishment of Kindle Garden has paved the way to In-school, an after-school programme for neurodivergent children that extend inclusive learning beyond preschool years, allowing children of all abilities to continue learning together.

The inclusive fitness model pioneered by ActiveSG’s gym has expanded to Little Splashes, a swimming school that offers aquatic activities for children and adults with diverse abilities.  

The Eyecare Village by Eyeviser, Singapore’s first inclusive primary eyecare center, adopts S3’s community-focused model, demonstrating how Enabling Village’s rehabilitation model can be adapted to address different health conditions and serve diverse populations beyond stroke recovery.

 

Partner With Us

Innovation thrives when visionary organisations come together to test new approaches to inclusion. Today, as these programmes continue to evolve and expand, new opportunities emerge for partnership and collaboration.

Whether you’re a potential partner or a curious visitor, come explore and experience the different initiatives at Enabling Village. Get in touch with us here.

 

For a decade, Enabling Village has been a place where possibilities grow and inclusion thrives. From Singapore’s first inclusive indoor pool and first pet grooming training studio to the first music repair academy, we’ve turned bold ideas into reality. As we celebrate 10 years of building a more accessible Singapore, discover the voices, milestones, and everyday moments that have shaped our community – and be part of what comes next.