Residential College 4’s Noctua House successfully ran their latest iteration of the NoctuaCares - a special program with the theme of Intergenerational Equity. The latest initiative dedicated to bridging the digital divide and fostering community through innovation. Building on their commitment towards the theme, the recent session at NTUC Health Pasir Ris successfully combined cutting-edge technology with adaptive sport:

Bridging the Digital Divide with Generative AI

Building on their previous success with 3D printing workshops in 2025, the Noctua House Committee innovated further this year by introducing Generative AI to our seniors.

• Accessible Tech: Students used WhatsApp’s MetaAI to help seniors generate personalized Chinese New Year messages, discover popular CNY cuisines and songs.
• Visual Intelligence & Identification: A key highlight was teaching seniors to use AI Image Search. By simply taking a photo, they learned how AI can identify household items, like a pedestal fan, and provide troubleshooting tips.
• Digital Discernment: Student volunteers empowered seniors to spot "Red Flags" in phishing scams and identify AI-generated images by looking for unnatural details, like distorted text or "impossible" pizza slices.
• Bilingual & Personalized: Through a 1:1 volunteer-to-senior pairing and bilingual delivery, students ensured that every participant felt supported and empowered in their learning journey.

Creative Engineering & Inclusive Sport

Beyond AI, the program also focused on holistic well-being:

• 3D Printing Pen Art:
  • In May 2025 with St Luke’s Eldercare, in collaboration with TinkerThings Global, 6 Noctua volunteers facilitated workshops for over 15 seniors, focusing on 3D-printed keychain designs to boost fine motor skills and social well-being.
  • In January 2026 with NTUC Health Pasir Ris, students scaled this model further, pairing 15 volunteers with seniors to get colorful 3D accessories using safe, corn-based PLA plastics. Volunteers successfully integrated Boccia, an inclusive precision sport, to promote active aging, teamwork, and high energy levels throughout the afternoon.

The Value of Community-Led Innovation

This event was more than just a workshop; it was a systematic effort by RC4 Noctua House students to evaluate and scale meaningful community impact. While they celebrate the laughter and newfound skills, students are already looking ahead. The evaluation team identified key areas for growth, such as providing tangible AI-generated takeaways and developing long-term monitoring indicators to ensure our impact on digital inclusion is sustainable and scalable.

Special thanks to Willoughby Niki Lee from Tinker Things Global for his invaluable support in facilitating a community of learning with our students and ensuring the seamless execution of these diverse programs! A huge thank you to our NTUC Health partners, our dedicated student volunteers, and students from Undergraduate Teaching Opportunities Program (UTOP) and  Senior Project Course (UTC3700) - Impact Evaluation group for providing insightful ideas and making this vision a reality.

Together, RC4 residents are proving that technology is not a barrier, but a bridge between generations.