Located in Redhill, this project exemplifies heartland rejuvenation and community building through the adaptive reuse of the Bukit Merah Vocational Institute, established in the 1970s. The Enabling Village champions sustainability and promotes learning, bonding, and healing among people with varying abilities within a biophilic setting.
Art is integrated into the garden with building-scale murals. Ernest Zacharevic first visited Singapore in late 2013, creating works in Joo Chiat and Victoria Street. In 2015, he returned to paint three murals in the Enabling Village, inspired by talented young artists from Pathlight School, an autism-focused institution. These murals enhance the village's open and inclusive public space.
by Ernest Zacharevic (2015), inspired by Selena Seow Yeh Yun‘s Birds of a Feather. He’s integrated his trademark children with the parakeets. Selena are one of the artist from the Art's Faculty, a social enterprise which showcases and sells very cool and beautiful stuff by artists on the autism spectrum.
At the Enabling Village, we are fortunate to have three exceptional Tribe Tour guides, each bringing their own inspiring story and perspective to the tour. Depending on who leads, you will experience the tour through different yet equally meaningful lenses:
Joanne Toh Sok Ling
Joanne, a stroke survivor, leads with empathy and wisdom gained from her personal journey of recovery. As a docent at the Enabling Village and an advocate for inclusivity, Joanne takes visitors through the space, sharing how its design supports individuals with varying disabilities. Her own experiences navigating life post-stroke will resonate deeply with you, as she highlights how the universal design principles foster independence. Joanne's soft-spoken strength, coupled with her storytelling of triumph, adds a touching dimension to the tour.
Jackie Chionh
Jackie’s resilience and adaptable nature are at the heart of his tours. After a road accident left him with a permanent nerve injury, Jackie didn’t let that hold him back. Instead, he turned his challenges into strengths and became a regular busker known as Singapore’s one-handed magician. Jackie’s tours are lively, as he weaves in stories from his days busking on the streets to his role as a motivational speaker. He’ll lead you through spaces like the gym and dental clinic, sharing how they’ve been designed to empower individuals with disabilities. His personal experiences will bring the tour to life, offering an inspiring and engaging look at how the Enabling Village enables all individuals to thrive.
Humphries Warren Sheldon
Sheldon brings a passionate and uplifting energy to his tours. Wheelchair-bound later in life, he has embraced his role as a para-counselor and crisis responder. With a background in hospitality and F&B, Sheldon’s leadership and understanding of service shine as he guides visitors through SG Enable’s initiatives and Tech Able, where they can explore assistive technology. Known for his humor and lively personality, Sheldon connects easily with visitors, encouraging them to see beyond his physical limitations. His mantra, “Don’t judge me by my Plight but by my Might,” adds a layer of depth to the tour, making it an inspiring journey for all.
Each guide—whether it's Joanne, Jackie, or Sheldon—will lead the tour with their unique blend of experience, passion, and storytelling, offering visitors a meaningful look into how the Enabling Village fosters inclusivity and empowerment for all.
Tribe Tours is a tour company that curates privately guided tours led by passionate locals known as Chiefs and Natives, their expert storytellers. They know their cities inside out and take travelers beyond the usual tourist spots, offering hands-on, immersive experiences. With Tribe, you’ll interact with locals, cook traditional dishes, and discover the city’s hidden gems. The small, intimate group sizes foster genuine connections and personalized experiences.
Walking tour discovering Hainan’s roots, with a Hainanese guide by your side, make hands-on Hainan treats, where food and culture collide.
Walk through a village full of heart, where inclusion plays a part.
Narrated by Charmaine Leung, this tour explores her childhood in Singapore's red-light district and her mother’s brothel, shedding light on the lives of marginalized women.
Candles bloom, hearts make room, lenses zoom — illuminating lives, one candle at a time.
