CALM MRI Learn and Play Day: Turning Fear Into Confidence Through Play -

CALM MRI Learn and Play Day: Turning Fear Into Confidence Through Play

Friday, 7 November 2025

The ASEAN Foundation, supported by United Way Worldwide and LEGO in collaboration with ASEAN Youth Organization Singapore Chapter, successfully hosted the CALM MRI Learn and Play Day, a major milestone of the CALM MRI – Fear to Confidence: Learning Through Play with LEGO MRI Scanners Programme. This regional initiative is dedicated to strengthening the well-being of children and families by providing educational and therapeutic tools that help reduce anxiety among children undergoing medical treatments, particularly MRI scans.

ASEAN Foundation is taking the lead in delivering 324 scanners in Indonesia and another 324 in Singapore, in collaboration with the ASEAN Youth Organization Singapore Chapter. These LEGO MRI sets are designed to help children familiarise themselves with MRI procedures in a friendly, comforting, and playful way. By interacting with a miniature version of the machine, children can better understand what to expect, easing their fears and strengthening their emotional resilience. This allows them to approach medical experiences with greater confidence, ultimately creating a more child-friendly healthcare environment..

To ensure smooth implementation of the programme, the ASEAN Foundation oversees the entire process, from receiving and storing the LEGO MRI sets to distributing them to predetermined locations. In addition, the Foundation provides educational materials for caregivers and organisations using the sets, engages youth volunteers to assemble the LEGO MRI Scanner, and will produce a comprehensive final report outlining the project’s achievements and long-term impact. This approach reflects the Foundation’s commitment to combining education, youth empowerment, and community support to create meaningful change.

The Learn and Play Day brought together 70 participants from government agencies, NGOs, healthcare organisations, and educational institutions. Demonstrations highlighted how LEGO MRI Scanners serve as engaging, hands-on tools to help children feel more at ease when preparing for an MRI scan. The event underscored the power of play in providing emotional reassurance and simplifying complex medical procedures for young patients.

Distinguished guests included Mr. Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Law and Ministry of Social and Family Development of Singapore; Ms. Victoria Yim, Social Impact & Partnerships Manager of LEGO; Dr. Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of ASEAN Foundation; Mr. Mahmudi Yusbi, Head of Strategic Planning and Business Development of ASEAN Foundation; and Ms. Liow Hwee Hsiang, Principal Child Life Therapist of Children’s Cancer Foundation. Their presence highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration in improving children’s healthcare experiences.

Discussions reaffirmed that hospital visits can be intimidating for children, particularly when faced with unfamiliar procedures. Because MRI scans require children to stay calm and still, emotional readiness directly supports more accurate, efficient, and safe medical evaluations. Programs like CALM MRI help ensure that healthcare professionals can deliver the best care possible.

The event also served as a moment of appreciation for the ASEAN Foundation’s leadership and LEGO’s creativity in transforming a potentially frightening medical experience into a playful learning opportunity. The involvement of young medical practitioners and youth NGO leaders further demonstrated how creativity, empathy, and youth leadership can shape innovative, compassionate solutions for children’s healthcare.