Eugene Seah was born with Apert Syndrome, a genetic disorder that caused him to have an abnormal head shape and facial features as well as fused fingers. He had undergone multiple surgeries since young to widen his cranium and nasal passages, with the last surgery in 2023 for a midface advancement procedure to improve the airways. His fingers were also surgically separated, allowing him to write and type.
The 24-year-old has faced all these challenges with remarkable determination and optimism. Eugene is not ashamed of his appearance, and always choose to focus on his abilities and worth.
To Eugene, contributing to the community is one way of living life to the fullest. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he contributed to Singapore’s fight against the pandemic by taking on the role as a health screening officer at the vaccination centres. He registered and screened the patients, addressed inquiries and liaised with concerned family members.
His decision to pursue a social work career stemmed from his own personal journey. His conviction came from having spent a considerable amount of his childhood in hospitals and interacting with medical professionals and social workers.
A first-year social work undergraduate at the National University of Singapore, Eugene is active in several co-curricular activities and hold roles in the Society of Social Work Students as well as NUS Enablers, a student interest group that aims to promote accessibility and inclusivity for students with accessibility needs on campus.
In the past year, Eugene had participated in the NUS Human Library 2024, a platform for students with accessibility needs to share about their experiences and life journey with the NUS community. He was also on the Orientation Committee for the NUS Social Work Freshman Orientation Camp 2024.
“I am truly thankful for this [APB Foundation] scholarship as it encourages me to pursue what I truly believe in. After graduation, I hope to advance social causes, serve the people and contribute to the formulation of key policies for the disabled community in Singapore,” said Eugene.
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The Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation Scholarship for Persons with Disabilities is a bond-free scholarship. It supports students with physical, sensory or developmental disabilities in their university studies at six local institutions with no restrictions in the discipline of studies. It is also the only pan-disability scholarship in Singapore. Since its launch in 2004, the APB Foundation has committed over $2.4 million to the programme and has since awarded 63 scholarships.
Find out more at https://spd.org.sg/scholarships/.