In the heart of Singapore, Enabling Village shines as a beacon of disability inclusion, a testament to what can be achieved when communities come together to embrace diversity and champion inclusion. As Enabling Village celebrates its 10th anniversary, also known as EV10, we celebrate the milestones achieved—each a testament to the power of inclusivity and collaboration.
With carefully curated programmes designed to engage both persons with disabilities and the wider community, it offers a vibrant, welcoming space where everyone can come together to connect, learn and grow. Through arts, sports, music and everyday interactions, the village space fosters meaningful participation for all, proving that inclusive design leads to shared joy, stronger communities, and lasting impact.
Tenants and Programmes Championing Inclusion
Part of the vibrant tapestry of Enabling Village is its selection of tenants, and Wildflower Studio stands out as a unique fusion of creativity and compassion. Co-founded by Amanda Cho, the studio offers art jamming sessions in the company of fostered cats, creating an environment where art and feline-assisted programmes intersect to promote well-being.
Amanda shares her experience:
“The Enabling Village staff has been very supportive and pro-active in working with us from providing a lot of tenant support in programming, hiring or job support, and connecting us with existing and new tenants. The premises are thoughtfully-designed for respite with greenery and resting spots that are well-maintained. We value the friendships between the tenants and SG Enable, where every interaction is genuine and kind.”
Wildflower Studio’s Paint and Chill in Monochrome is a reflective workshop that brings participants through a guided simulation, and encourages them to let go of their colour biases and push boundaries as they explore different ways of seeing, feeling, and expressing themselves through art. Each person completes an artwork shaped by their unique perspective.
Another example of disability inclusion is Enabling Village’s partnership with Special Olympics Singapore (SOSG), which provides physical activity opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities while fostering a deeper sense of community and belonging. Since 2024, Enabling Village has hosted SOSG’s DanceSport Training, providing a conducive space for athletes to express themselves, and grow through dance.
Volunteer head coach Andy Ang recounts the journey:
“As part of the coaching team that went to Italy in March 2025, seeing my athletes win at the inaugural DanceSport competition at the Special Olympics World Winter Games was a big highlight in my career. We’re grateful to Enabling Village for providing (us) ample space for practice, which gave our athletes the confidence and purpose to train towards their international goals.”
New Additions to the Village
Expanding on its offering of inclusive sporting activities, Enabling Village has welcomed new tenants like Little Splashes Aquatics, a swim school that customises lessons for neurodivergent learners, which opened in March 2025.
Little Splashes Aquatics built a disability-friendly swim facility equipped with ramp access, wheelchair-friendly showers and accessible pool features at Enabling Village to accommodate diverse needs. Along with their adult disability swim, adaptive swim, and aqua fitness programmes, it encourages individuals of all abilities to embrace water-based fitness.
Elena Lim, Head Coach of Little Splashes Aquatics, shares their upcoming plans:
“We aim to organise more events that promote social inclusion, to build connections and dispel misconceptions about disabilities, fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie as Enabling Village continues to grow.”
Complementing its physical wellness offerings, Enabling Village also provides music programmes that uplift the spirit and foster connection. Music has long been a powerful tool for bringing people together, and the newest addition to Enabling Village, Voices of Singapore (VOS), channels this unity through its Starlight Programme. Led by Tham Pei Wen, the programme offers choral singing and music-making groups specially designed for children and youths with special needs.
Pei Wen reflects on the programme’s growth:
“From humble beginnings as a small online music class during the pandemic, our programme has flourished, offering multiple initiatives catering to children of diverse abilities.
I hope that the move to Enabling Village will help us reach a new demographic and attract more persons with special needs to join our free singing programme. In the next phase of Enabling Village, we also envision a community of singers that include non-special needs individuals who advocate for inclusivity, starting with the You+Me Initiative where members from the VOS Children’s Choir join us to sing and interact with our members.”
Finding its home at Enabling Village, the Starlight Programme has fostered a sense of fellowship among participants and their families. Some members have even joined the broader VOS choir community, singing alongside their parents, demonstrating the programme’s impact on integration and acceptance.
Beyond tenant programming, Enabling Village continues to curate year-round programmes through the Invitation for Programmes, which welcomes initiatives across areas such as arts, culture, sports and technology from organisations and individuals.
Celebrating Inclusion Through Enabling Lives Festival
It all culminates in one signature annual event, Enabling Lives Festival (ELF) in December, which champions inclusion and celebrates diverse abilities.
Since the United Nations’ International Day of Person with Disabilities falls on 3 December, it is an opportunity to spotlight disability inclusion at the Village .
Held over two days, Enabling Village Open House kickstarts ELF on 6 Dec with inclusive programmes together with satellite partners across several locations in Singapore till 7 Dec.
Emily Ong, Senior Director of the Employment and Lifelong Learning Group at SG Enable, shares how the festival has evolved over the years:
“What began as a modest online festival focused on disability awareness at Enabling Village and programme partners has evolved into a nationwide festival that drives action and collaboration. Each physical edition since has expanded in reach, deepened partnerships, and strengthened public engagement across different spaces and communities.”
To create wider opportunities for collaboration, the Call for Collaborations was launched in 2023 to invite individuals and organisations from diverse sectors to co-create meaningful experiences that empower persons with disabilities and foster awareness. It serves as a platform for programmes such as workshops, performances, exhibitions and panel discussions that promote inclusion.
Looking Ahead: EV10 and Beyond
As Enabling Village celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, the journey towards a more inclusive society continues. This December, the Enabling Lives Festival 2025,will once again bring the community together for a vibrant celebration of disability inclusion, with inclusive performances, workshops, a gift market, and the Enabling Village Open House.
As the Village looks to the future, aiming to inspire even greater impact, visitors can look forward to refreshed experiences, expanded activities, new tenants and a new extension that will be open to the public at the end of the year.
Whether you are seeking inclusive programmes, looking to collaborate, or simply want to learn more about disability inclusion, there is something for everyone at Enabling Village! We welcome all organisations and individuals who are passionate about bringing inclusive and innovative programmes to join us.
Join the Invitation for Programmes: enablingvillage.sg/partnership-opportunities
For a decade, Enabling Village has been a place where possibilities grow and inclusion thrives. 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.
Explore the offerings at Enabling Village and participate in programmes here.
