BRILLIANT BUDDIES

Pairing Neurodivergent People
with Volunteers

People who learn and move differently experience the world in a diverse manner and sometimes face societal barriers that may lead to decreased participation in regular activities like going out to see a concert, an art show or a movie - common activities for neurotypical people.

Brilliant Buddies pairs neurodivergent and differently abled people with volunteers based on their mutual interests. Through mentoring, our volunteers offer affirmative support by spending time with their mentees, first at the institutions where the mentees study or are a part of, and later on - with permission from the mentees' guardians - on outings and social activities they can enjoy together outside their homes.

Our Mission

To help neurodivergent and/or differently abled people
access affirmative support and long lasting friendships
that are respectful of their neurotype.

Why it Matters

We may not be directly impacted, but we inevitably have someone in our close environment (family, friends, co-workers…) who may be affected. This is why it is high time to take a fresh look at this phenomenon, get rid of the taboos that surround it and find ways to support and make a difference. Indeed, when action meets compassion, lives change.

Understanding Neurodiversity

Driven by both genetic and environmental factors, an estimated 15-20 percent of the world's population exhibits some form of neurodivergence. Neurodivergent conditions, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD)4 are overrepresented in STEM fields.

The term neurodiversity was coined in 1990s and is used to describe the different ways people’s brains work. The idea behind this term is that there isn't a “correct” way for the brain to work and therefore, we must embrace and encourage with empathy the different ways that people perceive and respond to the world.

Many neurodiverse people have higher-than-average abilities; research shows that some conditions, including autism and dyslexia, can bestow special skills in pattern recognition, memory, or mathematics. Yet those affected often struggle to fit the profiles sought by the society.

About Us

Brilliant Buddies is a volunteer-based, non-profit association, headquartered in Singapore, committed to promoting the rights of neurodivergent people.

Building on a successful, on-going mentorship programme, which we set up a few years ago for underprivileged girls from Pertapis Home in Singapore, we wanted to take the learnings from this experience and extend our reach to support neurodivergent people.

We are all ordinary people who want to do extraordinary things and with such initiatives, we can be brilliant buddies to each other.

How it Works

1. As a first step, we organise a briefing for our new Brilliant Buddies Volunteers at one of our partners' venues, so as to outline what is to be expected and how to interact with mentees at those institutions.

2. Soon after, volunteers can join the planned group activities at those venues with their mentees. This usually takes the form of arts and crafts projects, reading, group icebreaker games and even dancing. Some activities may include planned outings at other venues such as bowling alleys, running tracks and nature reserves for hiking.

3. If a special bond forms between mentor and mentee, and if this is permitted by the mentee's guardian, then outings can be scheduled outside of the group activities. Once paired, our mentors and mentees can go to social events togethers a couple times a month for a year.

Our Partners

We partner with well-run institutions and schools in Singapore that have programmes in place providing care, guidance and special education to adults and children with a range of neurotypes such as Language Delay, Language Disorder, Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Attention Deficit Disorder, Developmental Delays and other communication profiles.

We believe mentoring could help differently abled people by upholding their right to inclusion in society. Mentors can serve as role models and share experiences while helping to support their mentees in their academic, career and social and emotional development.

Meet Our Team

Our dedicated team are all volunteers themselves. Of various nationalities and backgrounds, they are united in their commitment and passion to making a difference and supporting people struggling with neurodiversity.