Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Fulbright Canada launched the post-COVID Challenge, a flagship initiative aimed at harnessing the creativity and innovation of young leaders across Canada and the United States. Supported by generous donations, including a notable contribution from Fulbright Canada Board members, the challenge sought proposals that address urgent social issues in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus was on fostering social cohesion, enhancing health and wellness, stimulating economic recovery, and driving digital transformation.
Fulbright Canada
Post-COVID Challenge
Immersive Healer: Reconnecting Through Virtual Reality
By Kaiwen Yang
The "Immersive Healer" project, conceptualized and developed by Kaiwen Yang (director of Skape Innovations), emerged as a poignant response to this challenge.
Kaiwen led the creation of a virtual reality cultural center that not only preserves the heritage of Hogan’s Alley (a historically Black neighborhood in Vancouver) but also offers an interactive space for education and engagement. This VR platform became a conduit for storytelling, allowing users from around the world to explore the neighborhood’s history and experience its cultural legacy firsthand.
Presented at the Fulbright finals in Ottawa, "Immersive Healer" demonstrated the potential of VR to serve as a powerful tool for social healing and historical preservation.
The acclaim and recognition received at the Fulbright Canada challenge have propelled the "Immersive Healer" into a model for similar initiatives. Looking ahead, Kaiwen continues to advocate for the use of technology in cultural preservation and is exploring opportunities to expand the project's reach to other underrepresented communities.
For a closer look at the project and its development, please explore the gallery and the news article below. These resources offer a visual and narrative context to the profound impacts of the "Immersive Healer."
"Immersive Healer" stands as a testament to the transformative power of virtual reality in bridging historical gaps and fostering a deeper understanding of our cultural heritage. As Kaiwen Yang moves forward with this initiative, he remains committed to the ongoing dialogue about technology’s role in societal healing and the reimagination of community narratives.
