When asked about things that remind him of home, Aaron Leong Wei Ming typed ‘bird’ on his iPad. Aaron’s caregiver, Umi Kurnia (or Auntie Umi), explained that he was often woken up by birds in the morning. A joint effort with Auntie Umi, Aaron’s artwork depicts a koel bird making mating calls near his house. This represents Singapore’s biodiversity, which Aaron appreciates from home.

Despite Aaron’s challenges with communication and fine motor skills because of cerebral palsy, he exhibited great autonomy in the design process.

Under the guidance of his art facilitators from Superhero Me, Aaron chose his shapes from an array of cut-outs and Auntie Umi would assist by pasting them where he pointed.

Puzzlingly, Aaron chose to illustrate the artwork of a koel bird with four eyes (represented by the crosses). This is a universal experience for many Singaporeans.

Auntie Umi chalked this up to Aaron’s playfulness. She said: “He’s really a cheeky boy... He did it simply because he wanted to.”

Aaron’s exuberance is not restricted to his artworks. While he is normally quiet, he teases others occasionally and has a playful charm.

His close relationship with Auntie Umi manifests outside the classroom too. Aaron’s iPad is loaded with augmentative and alternative communication applications that create words, which Auntie Umi helps interpret.

Even without his iPad, she intuitively understands and assists with his needs. She explained that she tries her best to help Aaron in whatever way possible, knowing that it provides a sense of comfort and connection.

She believes that despite his disability, Aaron is fully capable of making a positive difference to those around him.

Seah Chee Meng set out to depict home in its most everyday, ordinary sense; this artwork portrays a typical scene in the heartlands.

In a HDB apartment block, many households have left clothes out to hang under the sun, a familiar sight for all of us. People are relaxing, doing chores at home or heading out and about. Birds are flying freely in the sky, further creating a sense of tranquility. ​

This sense of simplicity is strengthened by his art style. The artwork is drawn by hand with relatively uncomplicated shapes, eschewing the use of more sophisticated techniques. Through this artwork, Chee Meng highlighted the comfort that can be found in domesticity and the seemingly mundane.

Despite the challenges caused by COVID-19, Chee Meng will always see Singapore as a quiet and tranquil paradise that is safe and secure. Chee Meng’s eclectic personality is charismatic and he packs a great sense of humour.

In one instance, with a twinkle in his eyes, he naughtily exclaimed: " If I could, I’d be an emperor because they don’t do anything. They just order people around!” He has a wide range of interests – he loves K-pop tunes, eating Korean food, playing video games and taking walks in the garden at Metta Centre. He has two wishes for Singapore: for it to remain a safe and stable country, and for all of us to actively accept and embrace people with intellectual disabilities with an open mind and open arms.

Certainly, his cheerfulness and optimism make it clear that there is much we can learn from him. Or, as he puts it: “I want Singaporeans to be more friendly and less quick to judge!”

Chua Ai Lan created ‘My HDB Flat’ to depict her own experiences at home. The grid of squares in her artwork represents a ten-storey HDB block, in which her family resides in. Each square also represents a window into a room. She draws herself lying on the sofa in her living room. She is tackling a word search puzzle, a favourite pastime of hers. ​

With her family members around her, she fittingly locates the word ‘home’ in her puzzle, an indication of how deeply she loves her family. The artwork showcases Ai Lan’s cherished comforts. She demonstrates that by keeping calm, indulging in our hobbies, and connecting with loved ones, we can enjoy a sense of security and belonging –regardless of what each day may bring.

Ai Lan was shy and unable to interact comfortably with strangers when she was younger. However, several years ago, she was inspired by her sisters to be more confident and independent. Her self-esteem has grown tremendously thanks to her two sisters, who have made it their mission to support Ai Lan.

With the help of her sister, Nancy Chua, she began to take public transport and interacted with retail staff more frequently. This pushed her towards conquering her fears. Now, Ai Lan ventures out more often on her own and is learning sign language at the TOUCH Centre for Independent Living.

Nancy said: “When Ai Lan is at home, she teaches us what she’s learnt. She has a lot of potential to excel in life. We hope that this National Day project encourages her, shows her that she can make a difference, and that others appreciate what she can do. ”

Ai Lan is testament that if we can provide individuals with special needs with patience and opportunities, they too can blossom and contribute back to society in meaningful ways.

In this artwork, Fadhil draws the HDB blocks opposite his own block, with national flags hanging outside each flat. Since flags serve as a collective vision of qualities that an ideal Singapore should possess, he believes that the act of hanging flags allows us to express our patriotism in the most tangible manner possible. Even though his artwork does not depict any actual people interacting with one another, there is the sense that they are united in their pride for their country.

Recollecting this year’s special exceptions allowing Singaporeans to display national flags much earlier than before, this artwork demonstrates the power of this rallying call. In general, Fadhil’s drawing is rather simple both in concept and style, but its message is powerful. It intimately explicates how a small act, when carried out by each and every one of us, can come together to form something stunning that can inspire others too.

While his artwork expresses a great deal of hope, Fadhil believes that there is still much more to be done to foster greater unity. Personally, he explains that he does not know his neighbours much despite having seen them many times. He has always wanted to befriend them and discover what unique stories each of them has to share, and hopes that he can do so one day.

Though Fadhil is autistic and consequently has mild difficulties with speech, he visibly opens up when discussing his interests, including caring for his four cats. He also enthuses about Universal Studios Singapore, his favourite tourist attraction because he loves the thrill of riding the rollercoasters.

He also expresses hope that he can contribute to society by becoming a doctor one day. As a caring and warm-hearted individual, Fadhil endears himself to those he interacts with.