Kwek Kaiyi David, 15

School: Anglican High School

Topic: Roadshows are the most effective way to engage, educate and encourage all age groups on organ donation

Award: Senior Category, 2025

“The greatest gift you can give is the gift of life.” – Anonymous. While most people are aware of it through advertisements or television shows, many lack proper education on the subject and may not be interested in becoming donors despite it being such an “altruistic” form of donation. The demand for organ donation is growing rapidly, although the concept of organ transfers originated thousands of years ago. In the 1950s, with limited medical options available for treating incurable diseases like nephritis, pioneering teams of scientists, surgeons, and altruistic patients laid the foundation for organ transplantation, achieving the first successful kidney transplant in humans. Since that groundbreaking procedure in 1954, scientific discoveries and advancements have transformed the once-mythical concept of organ transplantation into a life-saving reality. The widespread success and public acceptance of organ donation and transplantation today can be attributed to the collaborative efforts of basic scientists, immunologists, surgeons, and dedicated public advocates. The key question is whether roadshows in heartlands are the most effective way to promote organ donation by achieving three essential goals: engaging, encouraging, and educating people of all age groups. In addition, I will address the question on how roadshows compare to other forms of engagement. 

One of the key benefits of roadshows is their ability to reach out to a large and diverse audience due to their flexibility and interactive nature. Since roadshows can be held in heartland areas, they can effectively engage residents from different backgrounds and ages, including those who may not actively seek information on organ donation. The heartlands are home to a mix of age groups, from the elderly to young adults, making them an ideal location to spread awareness across different demographics. With interactive activities like quizzes, hands-on demonstrations, and professional talks, roadshows make the learning experience more engaging and provide real-time discussions. The presence of trained professionals also means that people can get immediate answers to their questions, clearing up doubts on the spot. However, while roadshows have the potential to attract a large audience, their success depends on whether people are willing to engage with the topic, especially since organ donation is not the most riveting of topics. Organ donation is not something that most people actively think about, and those who are uninterested may simply ignore the event. Furthermore, the location and timing of roadshows play a big role in their effectiveness — if held in areas with low foot traffic or at times when people are busy, they may fail to make much of an impact. Even for those who do engage, the information provided in a single session may not be enough to leave a lasting impression, making follow-up efforts necessary to reinforce awareness, which is difficult to achieve. 

Another advantage of roadshows is their ability to educate people and clear up common misconceptions about organ donation. Many people hesitate to become organ donors because of misunderstandings, religious concerns, or cultural beliefs, and roadshows provide a platform to address these issues directly. Conducting these roadshows in the heartlands makes them more accessible to the public, especially for older residents who may not actively seek out information online or through other digital platforms. With medical professionals present, attendees can ask questions and receive accurate information, helping to correct false assumptions and provide clarity on organ donation policies. For instance, a study published in BMC Health Services Research highlighted a decreasing trend in public awareness of organ donation publicity following a law change. The study found that only 36% of the population was aware of general organ donation publicity, with the lowest being 26% in April 2017. This suggests that a significant portion of the public may not fully understand the implications of opt-out organ donation systems. 

Additionally, a 2019 National Survey of Organ Donation Attitudes and Practices in the United States revealed that while 56.3% of Americans supported opt-out policies, a substantial 34.4% would choose to opt out of such a system. This indicates that a notable segment of the population may not be fully informed about the default nature of opt-out systems and their rights within them. These findings underscore the importance of public education to ensure individuals are fully informed about organ donation policies and their choices within these systems. 

However, roadshows only benefit those who choose to attend, and people who are already hesitant about organ donation may avoid engaging altogether. Additionally, the accuracy and effectiveness of the information provided depend on the knowledge of the speakers — if the professionals or volunteers conducting the event are not well prepared, there is a risk of spreading incomplete or even misleading information. Unlike digital campaigns or television advertisements, which can repeatedly expose people to key messages, roadshows rely on direct interactions, making their overall educational impact less consistent. 

Roadshows also play an important role in shaping public attitudes toward organ donation by creating an emotional connection to the cause. Many people are hesitant to register as organ donors due to fears about bodily integrity, religious beliefs, or concerns about how their organs will be handled after death. By featuring real-life stories from organ recipients or donor families, roadshows can make the issue more personal and relatable, encouraging people to reconsider their stance. This is especially effective in heartland settings such as HDBs, where strong community ties can influence decision-making. When people hear testimonials from others within their own neighbourhoods, they may feel a greater sense of trust and connection to the cause. Seeing firsthand how organ donation has saved lives may inspire more people to think about becoming donors themselves. Additionally, roadshows help to reassure people by addressing fears and common myths with face-to-face interaction, making them feel more at ease with the idea of donation. However, while emotional impact can influence people’s views, it does not always lead to action. Just because someone becomes more comfortable with the idea of organ donation does not mean they will take the next step and sign up as a donor. Personal and cultural beliefs can be deeply rooted, and a single roadshow may not be enough to completely change someone’s mind. Without continuous reinforcement through other forms of outreach, such as media campaigns or school programs, the impact of a roadshow may not last long. 

So, what are the other methods to promote organ donation? The first process I would like to discuss, which is the most prevalent nowadays, is social media and digital campaigns. Social media is an extremely accessible tool that is utilised by people of most ages, especially teenagers and young adults. This form of promotion does not require much money at all, and branches out into many types of apps that can spread information, such as YouTube, Twitter or Instagram. This allows a greater number of people to see the facts on organ donation; hence, it is able to reach out to people who may not be interested in organ donation in the first place. Not only that, but it also mostly comes in short form content, allowing people to easily view the information without taking time out of their day to learn about it. This allows an easier form of education for both parties, allowing people to be more receptive to the information as they obviously don’t want to specially go to roadshows out of their own will without much interest. However, it does not properly educate, engage or encourage people, as the content given to them is not personalised, as compared to roadshows who have trained professionals and interactive tools that can fulfil their tasks more effectively. The effectiveness of using social media can vary from person to person, and I think everyone agrees that a personalised and in-person campaign is more persuasive than a digital one in most cases. Additionally, the main consumers of social media are youths, who do not play much part in this discussion, as they are not of legal age to donate. In conclusion, the determination of which method is more effective is tricky, as both methods excel in different ways. 

Another method of promoting organ donation is through incentives. Humans are not altruistic creatures who do everything out of goodwill. Most of the time, incentives are given to motivate people to donate their organs, and I think it is the most effective way to persuade people to donate their organs. For example, in some organisations, after a person completes an organ donation, their families would be given priority when they would require an organ donation. This type of incentive can be a strong motivator for many, as the idea of securing a future benefit for loved ones may encourage people to take action. People may feel more inclined to donate if they know that their act of generosity could directly benefit their own family in the future, especially if a loved one needs a transplant. Furthermore, the target demographic of this discussion is mostly the older generation, who typically have a greater sense of duty to their family. This sense of security and assurance can make the decision to donate feel more personal and impactful. When handed with that benefit, most would be motivated to donate. Granted it may not excel in educating people as much, however, it is the most effective way to encourage a larger number of people to donate. 

In conclusion, reaching a conclusion on which method is best is an arduous task. They all have different areas that they excel in. For example, roadshows excel in personalised experiences, allowing for better education. On the other hand, social media reaches a wider audience and incentives provide better motivation for people to donate. Hence, I believe that a combination of all these methods can create greater overall benefits for the people, fostering a more caring, aware, and proactive society where individuals feel more connected to social causes and motivated to make a difference. 

Disclaimer: Please note that the views and opinions expressed in the essays for the Live On Festival 2025 are those of the participants and are not endorsed by the National Organ Transplant Unit (Ministry of Health).

To learn more about organ donation and organ transplantation in Singapore, please visit www.liveon.gov.sg