How does Orbis Future Vision Leaders foster youth empathy for blindness prevention?

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Orbis Future Vision Leaders Cultivates Empathy Through Practical Projects and Experiential Learning

The Orbis Future Vision Leaders program fosters social innovation and humanitarian empathy among tertiary students by enabling them to translate academic knowledge into tangible community projects aimed at preventing avoidable blindness. This initiative actively engages students in understanding and addressing the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals, thereby cultivating a deeper sense of empathy. Through various tracks and award categories, students develop and implement projects that not only provide direct services but also educate the wider community and promote inclusivity.
Student Projects Directly Address Blindness Prevention and Inclusivity

Student teams participating in the Orbis Future Vision Leaders program designed and executed a diverse array of practical initiatives. These efforts included vision screenings, interactive clinical escape rooms, augmented reality (AR) eye disease simulations, and braille decoding workshops, collectively serving over 2,200 citizens. These hands-on activities allowed students to directly engage with community needs and develop solutions that promote eye health and understanding.
Experiential Learning Enhances Empathy and Awareness

Several projects within the program specifically focused on building empathy and raising awareness. For instance, the "Inclusivity for the Visually Impaired Community Award" winner hosted a blindfolded running workshop, pairing medical students with visually impaired athletes to foster critical empathy. Similarly, the "The Unseen World Award" winners implemented low-cost simulation workshops using DIY glasses to allow school children to experience conditions like glaucoma and color blindness, offering a direct, albeit simulated, understanding of visual impairment.
Innovative Technological and Educational Approaches Drive Engagement

The program encouraged the development of innovative solutions across its different tracks. In the "Heal the Future" track, the overall champion from The University of Hong Kong created AI/AR-powered web tools, the AEyeChatbot and AEyeScreen Helper, to enhance literacy and connect with users. The "Educator 2.0" track saw a champion from The Chinese University of Hong Kong develop school workshops that combined visual simulation with tactile painting, aiming to instill inclusive values in children, thereby promoting early empathy development.

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How does Orbis Future Vision Leaders foster youth empathy for blindness prevention?

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