Children’s Day (2 October 2026) - Zavier’s Journey: Keep Smiling, Keep Trying

This Children’s Day, we celebrate Zavier – a bubbly, cheerful and curious nine-year-old boy whose bright smile, big heart and perseverance continue to inspire those around him. 

From a young age, Zavier has faced various health and developmental challenges. He has lived with eczema since birth and was diagnosed with asthma at two. Around the same time, a hospitalisation at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) following a seizure led doctors to notice concerns about his speech and development. He subsequently began seeing a Speech-Language Therapist (SLT). 

At three, Zavier was diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay (GDD) and started Occupational Therapy (OT). A year later, he was found to have facial hypotonia, which affected his speech and ability to blow air, as well as limb hypertonia, which made everyday activities such as gripping a pencil, running and climbing playground structures more challenging. He went on to receive Speech and Occupational Therapy (SPOT) to support his communication, motor skills and daily functioning. 

As he grew older, Zavier was also diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at five, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at eight, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) at nine. With regular hospital visits, specialist appointments and therapy sessions becoming part of everyday life, with days where the family had to visit different departments and therapists every week, his journey has not always been easy. 

Yet, through it all, Zavier has continued to face each day with curiosity and enthusiasm. 

Zavier joined Club Rainbow (Singapore) in 2021 after his cousin, who is also a child of Club Rainbow, introduced his family to the organisation. Following an official referral from the Department of Child Development at KKH, Zavier became part of the Club Rainbow family. 

Since then, he has participated in more than 100 programmes, covering areas such as self-help, social skills and emotional regulation, playing a very important role in supporting his development and guiding him through his early school years. Through these experiences, he has grown more vocal and confident, and become more comfortable interacting with his peers. 

For his family, Club Rainbow has also created opportunities to step outside their comfort zone. In the past, outings could be challenging, especially when strangers stared or made unkind comments about Zavier’s behaviour in public. Through Club Rainbow, the family has been able to visit new places and take part in activities without the same fear of being judged. 

Club Rainbow’s staff have also become like his older siblings, an important source of support for Zavier. He looks forward to seeing them and enjoys chatting with them whenever they meet. When he went through a particularly difficult period with anxiety and depression earlier this year, the staff continued to check in on him, listen to him and make sure he had someone to turn to. Their care and presence brought great comfort to his family during a challenging time. 

One of the things Zavier’s family is most proud of is how far he has come in school. When he was five, his teachers at the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) had raised concerns about whether he would be able to cope with mainstream education. 

Rather than giving up, Zavier continued working hard. While attending school and therapy sessions, he worked on his gross, fine and oral motor skills, gradually learning to write, draw and communicate more effectively. 

Today, Zavier is a Primary 3 student in a mainstream primary school. He has achieved excellent results, scoring near-full and full marks in his Mathematics and Science examinations. Beyond academics, he actively participates in school activities, including LEGO-building projects and his school’s Teachers’ Day performance, where he has taken to the stage each year. 

For his family, seeing his teachers recognise his holistic growth has been especially meaningful. 

“I never imagined these things would happen three years ago. Seeing how far he has come makes me incredibly proud of him.” 

Outside of school, Zavier enjoys all things vehicles, building with LEGO and drawing country flags and world maps. He is also a member of his school’s Art Club, where he gets to explore his creativity. 

When he starts drawing, Zavier can become completely immersed in his own world. Many of the art materials he has received from Club Rainbow have found their way into his creative projects, encouraging him to explore his love for art both at home and in school. 

And like many children, Zavier has big dreams. His current ambition is to become a bus captain. “I want to be a bus captain and drive bus 858, the longest bus route in Singapore, which can take up to 3 hours!” 

For his family, their greatest hope is simple: that Zavier will grow up happy and confident, and always believe in himself. " I hope he knows that it is okay to be different, it is okay to ask for help, and that he should never be afraid to try. Most importantly, I hope he continues to embrace life with the same curiosity, courage and cheerful spirit that make him who he is.” 

This Children’s Day, Zavier has a message for other children: 

“Don’t worry, you are not alone. Keep smiling and everything will be okay! Keep trying and don’t give up. 😊” 

Through every challenge, Zavier continues to show us the power of taking one step at a time – with curiosity, courage and a smile. 

Make a difference today - support Club Rainbow’s children like Zavier  

About Club Rainbow (Singapore)  

Established in 1992, Club Rainbow (Singapore) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting children with chronic illnesses, many of whom have disabilities and special needs, and their families. Anchored in our commitment to empowering individuals to lead dignified lives and become active contributors to society, Club Rainbow delivers more than 30 critical programmes, services, and assistance schemes to support our children and their family members.  

Website: https://www.clubrainbow.org/    

Contact number: 6377 1789   

Email: contact@clubrainbow.org   

Facebook/ Instagram/ TikTok/ LinkedIn/ YouTube: @clubrainbowsingapore