Zoe Ng

Nine-year-old Zoe may be young, but she carries a strength far beyond her years. Zoe was born with Harlequin Ichthyosis, a rare genetic disorder that causes abnormally thick, scaly skin that is highly prone to cracking and infections. 

In the past, babies born with this condition rarely lived beyond their first days. Thanks to medical advances, Zoe survived — but the thickness of her skin cut off blood circulation at her wrists, and she lost both hands within her first week of life. 

Daily life requires immense perseverance, with daily two-hour long oil baths and constant moisturising to manage her skin. There have been heart wrenching moments as well. “Zoe once asked if she could learn the piano and play badminton,” shared her father, Samuel Ng. “The lump that formed in my throat while finding the words for a gentle and appropriate, yet encouraging response, was a pretty sizeable one.” 

But Zoe’s world soon opened in unexpected ways, thanks to Playeum, a charity that empowers children through play and the arts, supporting families in need of support and children with special needs. Samuel chanced upon Playeum’s Open Minds, Open Doors (OMOD) programme when Zoe was three years old. 

OMOD promotes hands-on play with everyday materials. With activities ranging from painting and building to shadow-play, children are encouraged by Dr Esther Joosa and team to create whatever they wish to nurture their imagination and creativity. 

Not having hands did not stop Zoe from exploring paint, playing with dough or building bricks with peers. One of Zoe’s favourite activities was shadow play, where she got to create her own shadow puppet characters. Playeum facilitators would stimulate her imagination by helping her expand on her puppet story and characters. 

“OMOD is so much more than a space to play. It watered the children’s imagination and helped nurture the seeds of creativity within them,” said Samuel. Such experiences at Playeum helped Zoe develop her confidence as she learnt to speak up, explain and clarify her thoughts while playing with others. 

Today, Zoe is a lively and talkative Primary Three student at a mainstream school, where teachers and peers continue to support her learning journey. She loves ballet, swimming, drama and art — embracing life with joy and determination. Zoe looks to the future with hopes and dreams. “She wants to be an art teacher, a ballet teacher, a photographer,” said Samuel with a smile, his voice beaming with pride as he listed Zoe’s many passions. 

Zoe’s journey is just beginning. With your continued support, we can empower many others like her – to achieve their fullest potential. Join us in making a difference through the President’s Challenge today! 

About Playeum - Open Minds, Open Doors (OMOD) programme supported by President's Challenge: 

OMOD is an inclusive, change-focused play programme for young children (ages 3–9) with disabilities. By involving families, supporting skill and knowledge development, and drawing on research-backed training and experiences, the programme takes a holistic and sustainable approach to building inclusive communities through the power of play.