Jean Loo

My first exposure to social advocacy happened during my university days when I travelled to nine Southeast Asian countries photographing stories of children growing up in railway and river communities, and monastic schools. Through that experience, I felt encouraged to explore community work, and started on my journey in community arts with a group of seniors and volunteers in 2013.

With my friends, we founded Superhero Me, a ground-up community arts movement that focuses on creating opportunities for children from different backgrounds to socialise, co-create and experience art. We want to leverage the power of art to positively shape Singaporeans’ attitudes towards those who are different from them.

My co-founders and I feel that there is a need for inclusion in our society, where all children are given the opportunities to build friendships, and those with special needs are given a platform to develop a stronger sense of self. To me, inclusion isn’t a one-way street where typical people are there to benefit those with special needs. It is the idea that each of us has a perspective and can contribute, participate and achieve. An inclusive worldview enables us to learn how to live with all sorts of people and appreciate them as they are. It brings out the best in everyone.

It is always rewarding to see growth and change in the children we work with. In fact, they’re my biggest motivation. Not only do they inspire me with their brand of creativity and language of accessing the world, they’ve shown me how to cut through the noise, remind me that creativity comes in all forms, and that communication doesn’t have to be through words only.

In any advocacy movement, it’s a challenge to sustain momentum. The relationships we’ve built with the children and young people we work with are a big driving force. Seeing them grow in confidence and compassion and wanting to take charge of their lives for a future they can be proud of, it makes us all feel like we are on the right path.

With early exposure and a supportive environment, everyone can embrace diversity, regardless of social class or special needs. I look forward to the day that Superhero Me is no longer relevant, when our children with disabilities can go to the same schools with other children. That’s when inclusion truly becomes the norm.