Hope for a Brighter Future

When Niomi (8) and Nikki (11) were younger, they rarely ventured beyond the safety of their home to play with other children at their neighbourhood playground. Their parents’ visual impairment meant the siblings had to mature quickly, taking on responsibilities like helping with daily housework and guiding their parents whenever they left the house.  

When Jin Feng, their mother, was first connected to TOUCH through Digitally Ready Families, a programme aimed at empowering lower-income families with digital skills to navigate the online world, she saw an opportunity for her children to learn socio-emotional skills and experience their childhood fully through TOUCH Young Arrows (TYA).  

“We can’t raise our children like other parents. We can’t teach them how to write or help with homework. I hoped that TYA would not only give them academic support but also teach them vital social skills like politeness and respect while learning alongside their peers.”  

Transforming Through Patient Mentorship  

When the two siblings joined TYA Punggol Club in 2023, the Club Leader, Hiran, stepped in to journey alongside the family through weekly sessions that combine academic coaching and values-based activities.  

Caption: Hiran guiding Nikki (in white) through an activity during TYA Club time. 

At K1, Niomi could not recognise the full alphabet or write properly, and reading felt like a struggle. For Nikki, he often withdrew on his own and refused to speak or join in group activities. With patient support and guidance from TYA’s dedicated volunteers, both siblings have now grown academically and socio-emotionally.  

Thanks to one-on-one phonics coaching from Rainie, Niomi gained confidence in reading and writing, and is now able to read comprehension passages with ease. With gentle persistence and consistent encouragement from Hiran and a group of male volunteers, Nikki also started to open up, becoming more comfortable making new friends and is now actively involved during group time.  

Caption: Volunteers coaching Nikki and Niomi during weekly TYA club time.  

Exploring the World Beyond Home 

TYA has also expanded the children’s world beyond their home. Due to their visual impairment, Niomi and Nikki’s parents used to keep them close to home and avoid busy or unfamiliar places, worrying about safety and behaviour they could not see. Through TYA family events to places like Gardens by the Bay and East Coast Park, the children had opportunities to explore, play, and interact confidently in public spaces, while both parents could feel assured their children were in good hands.  

Caption: Niomi and Nikki taking part in a values-driven activity during TYA’s recent Family Day at East Coast Park. 

Caption: Niomi sharing with her mother about what she did during TYA club time. 

“I’m so grateful that TYA gives my children the chance to learn and play like other kids,” Jin Feng shared. “It fills the gaps we can’t fill because of our disability. Saturdays at TYA have become their favourite part of the week.”  

One evening after visiting her mother-in-law, Jin Feng and Nikki got off at the wrong bus stop in an unfamiliar, dimly lit estate. Nikki was scared, but what struck his mother was his courage. He led her safely to the right stop, navigating public transport with confidence. “I was scared, but I had to protect her,” he said – a moment of maturity and love that left his mother deeply moved.  

A Work-in-Progress 

At home, the family still faces challenges, such as setting firm boundaries around screen time and keeping distractions away while focusing on homework when the parents cannot always see what the children are doing. Thanks to TYA’s no-device environment and structured routines, Niomi and Nikki are learning how to focus better at home and at school.  

The children have also drawn “I love TYA” on the walls at home, a simple testament to how TYA has helped to shape their confidence and hope for the future.  

Caption: The siblings expressed their love for TYA through a playful doodle on the walls of their home.  

Niomi and Nikki’s journey reflect what TYA strives to do across its 23 clubs islandwide: provide academic support, values-driven mentoring, and enriching experiences so that children are not defined by their circumstances, but are equipped with skills, character, and community to move towards a brighter tomorrow.  

Their parents have also received further support from TOUCH Professional Deputies and Donees Service to provide better care for Jin Feng’s father who has dementia. Through TOUCH’s Simplified Deputyship Application (SDA) service, Jin Feng was placed on the simplified online application track via the Integrated Family Application System (iFAMS) under the Family Justice Court. This eased her financial burden as the rental income from her father’s flat can now be used to pay for her his care expenses.

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TOUCH Young Arrows (TYA) believes that every child has the potential to be nurtured and sharpened like arrows to make a positive impact and be future leaders in the community. TYA conducts weekly Saturday programmes for some 500 children at 23 clubs nation-wide to meet children's social, emotional and educational needs to bring out the best of their potential.     

Story written in 2026.