Project Iris
Empowering Nursing Students, Advocating for Paediatric Oncology
Project Iris is an initiative driven by students from the Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies (ALCNS) at the National University of Singapore’s Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. The project serves as a unique platform for Nursing students with a passion for paediatric oncology to explore their interests while making a tangible difference in the lives of children battling cancer. By providing both educational and hands-on experiences, Project Iris aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice in healthcare, while simultaneously raising awareness about childhood cancer—a topic often underrepresented in public discourse despite its prevalence.
Our Mission
The mission of Project Iris is threefold:
1. Empowering Nursing Students: We provide Nursing students with opportunities to engage deeply in the field of paediatric oncology, enabling them to gain practical experience in this specialized area. Through outreach programmes, students can apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios while interacting with children undergoing cancer treatment.
2. Raising Awareness: Childhood cancer is a pressing issue that is not often discussed in mainstream society. Project Iris seeks to raise awareness by engaging both the healthcare community and the general public in meaningful conversations about paediatric oncology. By organising outreach activities, we strive to foster greater understanding and empathy for children with cancer and their families.
3. Building Global Healthcare Connections: Project Iris is also actively exploring partnerships with voluntary organizations globally, particularly in countries like Indonesia and the Philippines. We aim to expand our outreach efforts and learn from international perspectives, which will help us improve healthcare systems while supporting children in different regions.
The Iris Symbolism
The project takes its name from the Iris flower, which symbolizes hope, courage, and admiration—qualities that resonate deeply with the children and families we support. The Iris flower’s symbolism reflects the spirit of resilience and strength that we witness in paediatric oncology patients, and it serves as a beacon of inspiration for the students who work alongside them
Our Activities and Impact
Through various hands-on activities, Project Iris aims to create memorable experiences for both the children and the Nursing students involved. Our initiatives include:
- Be A Nurse for a Day: In collaboration with the Children’s Cancer Foundation’s Place for Academic Learning and Support (PALS) programme, Nursing students brought essential nursing tools—such as wound dressing kits—and taught children how to perform basic nursing procedures, including wound dressing and bathing a newborn. This experience allows children, often on the receiving end of medical treatment, to step into the shoes of a healthcare provider. It fosters a sense of empowerment and curiosity about healthcare professions while allowing them to explore different career paths in a supportive, engaging environment.
- Exploring Professions with Arc Children’s Centre: In a fun and interactive session, Nursing students dressed up as various professionals—doctors, teachers, chefs, and more—and introduced the children to a wide range of career options. By providing this exposure, we help children envision the possibilities of their futures and inspire them to dream beyond their current circumstances.
- Carnival Day with Love, Nils: In partnership with Love, Nils, Project Iris organised a vibrant carnival day for children, featuring a range of exciting booths and activities, including a popcorn stand, friendship bracelet-making, balloon sculpting, and interactive games. The children thoroughly enjoyed the day, with laughter and joy filling the air as they engaged in creative and social activities. This event not only brought moments of happiness to the children but also created a sense of community and support among families affected by childhood cancer.
Get Involved
Project Iris is always looking for passionate individuals to join us in advocating for paediatric oncology and supporting children with cancer. Whether you’re a Nursing student eager to apply your knowledge in a practical setting or organisations interested in supporting our cause through outreach and awareness initiatives, we welcome your involvement.
For more information or to get involved, please reach out to us at
List of Local Projects
During our time with Project Iris, each interaction with the children has been a deeply fulfilling experience. Seeing their smiles, even in the midst of such difficult circumstances, reminds me that joy and laughter are powerful tools in the healing process. Our ultimate goal with every child we meet is simple—to make them smile. It’s these small, heartfelt moments that make all the difference in their journey, and we feel incredibly grateful to be part of it.
– Rashmika & Chroe, Project Directors AY2024/2025
Being apart of Project Iris will remain one of the most memorable experiences of being in NUS Nursing. It was such a privilege to be able to connect with our beneficiaries by volunteering and spreading joy in whatever way we could. Our favourite memory together as PDs was definitely planning and executing our final event together in AY23/24 which was Iris Carnival Day. It was a big effort from the both of us and our main committee with lots of planning and liaising with external vendors, our beneficiaries and members. However, seeing the smiles from our beneficiaries and their families certainly made the entire experience worth it and we were very happy to end our run as PDs on such a wholesome note. 
– Charisse & Ian, Project Directors AY2024/2025
