Youth For Causes: Walk4Epilepsy
This is a special report on a Youth for Causes project featuring a group of RVians and their “Walk4Epilepsy” project. On 12 August, this group partnered the Epilepsy Care Group (Singapore) of Singapore to raise awareness of epilepsy and educate the public on helping people who are afflicted with this condition.
Chinese Garden right outside the MRT station
The event began promptly at 9am and comprised a 2-mile walkathon around the scenic park. It was a nice escapade from the usual bustle of city life - but at the same time, it raises the question: how can walking empower epilepsy?
Epilepsy is an invisible disability, thus an effective way to raise awareness would be to connect Singaporeans using everyday activities which are easy to access - in this case, hiking. We managed to interview one of the co-organizers, Lai Sin Yee, on why she chose to focus on epilepsy and the impact her group, Project Luciole, hopes to achieve.
Q: "What hopes do you have for our community to make it more inclusive towards individuals with epilepsy?"
A: "I've always believed deep down that our community is a loving and inclusive one, where people can be accepted regardless of their differences. The same goes for individuals with epilepsy, which is an invisible disability. They live in constant fear of a seizure attack, especially in environments that they are unfamiliar with. They face multiple difficulties and are often stigmatized at home, school and work, leading to marginalization. However, these people are one of the strongest and bravest individuals that I've ever met. Yet, sometimes, even these fighters need the support of society to go on.
The first step to supporting them is to educate ourselves. A great source to do so would be Epilepsy Care Group (Singapore)'s website and Project Luciole's Instagram page (@walk4epilepsy). We would like to invite you to walk with us in the future, and help us make this a better world for individuals with epilepsy!" Q: "What are some afterthoughts you have after conducting this event?" A: "I see our event as a 'pilot programme' and the beginning of something meaningful. Our numbers may be small but everything has a beginning and our work has just started. As more awareness is raised for epilepsy, I expect more to support this in the future. Our cause has been featured in the Straits Times, and we have garnered the support of Mr Desmond Lee, Minister of Prime Minister's office, who wrote about us on his Facebook page. Please continue to lend your support for any future initiatives by Project Luciole and Epilepsy Care Group (Singapore)!"
Even though the occasional rain visibly dampened the spirits of the participants, the event was still an educational one which provided us numerous opportunities to learn more about epilepsy through fun and games.
For instance, participants were handed game sheets (pictured below) to complete while going about the walk. The perimeter of the walk was peppered with game booths set up by student volunteers. Participants had to navigate around the park in search of these booths in order to collect points to receive prizes at the end of the walk.
Game booths set up by student volunteers
We were honoured to have the event graced by Mr. Desmond Lee, the Minister of State for Ministry of National Development, as shown below:
Group shot with Mr Desmond Lee
At the end of the 2-mile walk, the participants headed back to the pagoda for lunch and an informative talk by representatives from ECG and individuals who have epilepsy.
Talk by ECG representatives and individuals with epilepsy
During the talk, representatives taught us how to identify and render aid to someone with epilepsy. For instance, an epileptic patient is susceptible to sporadic bouts of seizures. However, as a bystander, there are several things which we can do to ensure his safety.
Protip: Lie the person on his side, and remove any froth from his mouth to keep his air passage clear. Remove any sharp and dangerous objects so that he does not hurt himself.
Personal Sharing
Miss Ming Yee spoke about her experience with the condition as a child, and how everyone around her was afraid of her as they were ignorant of her condition. She felt alienated from her immediate community and faced many impediments at work. It was only until she found ECG that she was able to find solace and strength in a like-minded community with similar life experiences. She emphasised the importance of raising awareness about epilepsy so as to combat ignorance and increase social cohesion.
Student organisers closing the event
The event ended with our student volunteer organisers (Loo Yan Hui, Lai Sin Yee and Wang-Li Ze Han) speaking about their journey organising the event, as well as their aspirations for tomorrow. In particular, Sin Yee implored participants to commit themselves to making Singapore a more inclusive society by looking beyond the generic stereotypes which often rob those suffering from disabilities the chance to attain happiness.