GIRLGEMS 2007

NUS Interns for AWARE working on upcoming workshop

2007-10-05T10:10:00.001-07:00

“Perfect the Way I Am”
Informative Workshop on Self-love and Eating disorders
Organised by SCWO; Supported by AWARE

17th Nov, Saturday,
10am (Registration) – 4pm
Fee: Free! Including lunch and a goody bag with gifts
sponsored by Dove, Vanilla Magazine, Amore Spa, and more!

..........................................

What's it about:

Workshop featuring inspirational speakers and experts from the Support Group for Eating Disorders (SGH), Hope Center, previous patients, and CASE. There will also be an interactive element that will focus on how they can spread the message.

Who is it for?

It is our priority to target young women in leading positions in schools and universities whom we hope to become ambassadors of self-love and help to spread awareness of the importance of self-love, respect and also eating disorders.

However, it is also open to any young woman between 15-25 who wants to empower herself and others through :

- Learning more about eating disorders from specialists in the field from SGH & listening to the journeys of women who’ve been through eating disorders

- Learning to challenge cultural standards of beauty

- Learning the importance and gaining some skills in building positive self talk

- Interacting with others with the same interests in empowering women in Singapore

6 NUS interns and facilitators- Jamie (team leader), Angie, Wendy, Elaine, Michelle, Wanting.
Team also working on an NUS social work/sociology module related to gender issues.

AWARE volunteers - Chai Pei Shan (grad from NUS, new media evanglist and aspiring designer/writer) and
Chen Siya (Current NTU Undergrad, majoring in sociology). They were part of a group - YOUTH@AWARE.

Following up with the girlgems concert by the TKGS, these eight ladies take the intiative to collabrate with SCWO, under the Body-Image (BI) committee. The NUS interns further hope to contribute more towards the AWARE Body-Image committee.

After our initial first introduction and discussion about project proposal,
the NUS interns brainstorm on empowering activities for the upcoming workshop.

The girls also liase closely with Lim Yiew from SCWO to gel up the programme for the Nov workshop.

Stay tuned for more updates!

.........

A trip back to NUS - Peishan is back to on campus!

CNM is now located at AS6, closer to the law link to business school.

the new Arts Canteen - formerly, the Deck. Now with air-con upper deck , with Burger King,
Olio cafe and Lerk Thai. The area is perfect for project discussion with cuppa coffee.

late lunch - a delightful Siya enjoying the jap bento set ($4) at NUS arts centeen

CNM department office at AS6. Peishan met up with Adeline (Secretary) and
Aaron (friend and coursemate and master student with CNM) and toured the CNM dept.

graduating class of 2007 and department group photo

Dr. Millie (head of CNM programme) wins the Excellance Awards in teaching for 2005/06.

About Dr. Associate Professor Milagros (Millie) Rivera

About CNM

Speech by Constance Singam, AWARE President

2007-08-25T11:21:00.000-07:00

An inspiring speech by Ms Constance Singam, AWARE President... .

Sharing a real story about a girl struggling with her self-image and the way she looks. She eats only a banana for breakfast and upon probing, she said she didn't like her ears, your eyes, and face face, and if she saved enough money, shw would do something about it.
Constance: Once you start changing, you will never stop, because you will never be satisfied with yourself.... I'm very proud of these girls, they are empowered and strong enough. They don't need anything, they are good themselves. You are proud of who you are and what you are. This is what AWARE is trying to do in the long term - to be proud of who you are, to stand up for who you are. Never allow anybody, the media, the advertising agencies, those who sell you cosmetics, slimming pills... You must know that you are good enough. That's what AWARE does and hope to inspire young women to stand up for your rights, you are good as you are. And all that screaming should be for standing up for who you are and what you stand up for. *CHEERS*

These girls have done a marvellous job for raising funds for AWARE on their project and it is very relevant for women of their age group... And to share with you all, what AWARE has done over the last 21 years,...you go in and want to help other people, in fact, you help yourself, and you grow in that process. And if you ask these girls here, (if you have time), they will tell you that they have grown in the process. Everything that they have done in the last few weeks(4months), they have become empowered as a result. When you are doing something for others, you are actually helping yourself, you are growing in that process. And for all the Interact Club members (Interactors)..(come on up here.. in your beautiful t-shirts)

...in making a difference to your community and that is empowering in itself. Never let anybody tell you that you are less than themselves...Aware is trying to change the value system where every individual is respected for what they are - for who she or he is - respect for individual. Never let any young man dominate you...alright...~cheers~ You are as capable..it just means that you will be a better person in any relationship. (To young men in the crowd) And you treat your young women as equals and that's what is important.
And the BIG Thank you...

Thank you for raising funds for AWARE, to help us come up with more meaningful programmes. for you. And these wonderful young women did it all by themselves... can the interact club members please come up here.

It has been a long time since I was with young screaming women...
Thank you very much... it has been a night filled with laughter, fun and screams..
THANK YOU!

Team leader Synafina thanks everyone for their support and help in making this event a successful one :) 3 Cheers!!!

and a beautiful finale for the Interact Club, families and TKGS volunteers, sponsors, and supporters of this event and everyone who has helped in one way or another

Cheers to the GIRLGEMS Team!
Left to right: Siti nurbuwwah, Nadiah bte yuseli, Chai Pei Shan (AWARE and ex-TKGS),
Syafiqah syazwani, Nurul syafina

LET'S DO THE TK CHEER
hey everybody, we're from tkg
and this is our philosophy
it aint no matter who we fight
we don't shiver and we don't fear
with tk spirit we'll do no wrong
We'll show our courage and beat them all
so we dare you to come and fight
cause tk will never lose our pride

Come on everybody, let’s do the tk rap
we gonna boom boom shake the walls
we gonna boom boom shake the floors
You gonna get on get on down, you gonna get on down
you bet~
you gonna get on get on down, you gonna get on down
YEAH~ TK!!

peishan join in the tk cheer... a true tk girl at heart

AWESOME performance and concert by The Wonders and TKGS Interact club!

~beautiful finale~

2007-08-25T11:05:00.000-07:00

photo gallery: http://picasaweb.google.com/girlgems/GIRLGEMS_TKGSAWARE25Aug07

and the WINNERS are ***DRUM ROLL*

3rd prize
$100 Angelface voucher with
The Body Shop goodie bags and
Precious Thots diary notebooks
2nd prize
great female vocalist aka Miss Mariah Carey
$200 Angelface voucher with
The Body Shop goodie bags and
Precious Thots diary notebooks

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TOP PRIZE WINNER -'Syefiru'
(Syerah, Fiqah and Nouru)
$300 Angelface voucher with
The Body Shop goodie bags and
Precious Thots diary notebooks

tokens of appreciation to the judges

Mrs Gladys Hoy presenting to Paul Twohill
Left: Jamie and Nurl (JUDGES)

Highlights of fund-raising concert event

2007-08-25T10:44:00.000-07:00

Programme commences with video screening of Girlgems auditions footage at 7pm
(done by Syafiqah-girlgems team)

11 talented female performers, soaring high with excellent vocals and vibrant dances moves...

Let's dance! (3rd Prize)

Brenda from NUS High School singing '听不到' by Fish Leong

Lynn Ng from TKGS
A lonely September by Plain White Ts

Trio doing an Avril Lavinge

Dancers from Syefiru performing

Guest band enchanting the crowd with Lifehouse songs (LIVE!)

Singapore Idol Finalist - Paul Twohill entertaining the crowd

Finale: Combined Performance by GIRLGEMS performers

Special guest performance by sleeQ

2007-08-25T10:40:00.000-07:00

the duo is the crowd's favourite!sleeQ performed 4 tracks from their EP.
Check out hip-hop duo sleeQ>>www.myspace.com/sleeq

'Almost, But' by sleeQ
on Perfect 10 987 Charts - No. 18.

GOH Constance touring TKGS with Interactors

2007-08-25T10:33:00.000-07:00

Chairman of TKGS Interact club welcomes the Guest-of-Honour, Ms Constance Singam

Constance touring TKGS with the Interactors

the Spirit of TKGS explifies what a TKGgian embodies: A determined, confident and accomplished young woman strving to excel, surging valiantly forward building on the past to meet the challenges of the future. Statue sponsored by the Advisory Committee The TKGS Alumni

reading about values of TKGS
creative canvas and artworks with themes and symbolism of values of a TKGian

Fellow interactors selling food to raise funds for AWARE

AWARE booth at TKGS Girlgems

2007-08-25T09:59:00.000-07:00

in the news
Straits Times, 25 Aug (Sat)
Home H10, Charity at home

..............

Chen Siya
YOUTH@AWARE representative, and co-chair of AWARE's Body-image committee

Team 'Syefiru' - dance

2007-08-22T08:37:00.000-07:00

Team Syefiru, hip hop dance act Syerah, Fiqah, Bouru

GIRLGEMS Finalists: Brenda

2007-08-22T08:13:00.001-07:00

Participant: Brenda Tan Yue Lin (Solo singing)

Fish Leong's 听不到

back to school (part 2)

2007-08-22T07:58:00.001-07:00

News Release

2007-08-21T08:47:00.001-07:00

News Release Singapore, 21 August 2007

For Immediate Release

TKGS girls rocking the way into social entrepreneurship and creative fund-raising with a hip charity concert ‘GIRLGEMS 2007’ on 25 August 2007

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

“We believe that every girl is as unique, dazzling, sparkling and special in
their own way, just like a gem. Girlgems is about YOU and everything you CAN be.”
– Nurul Syafina, Team Leader of ‘The Wonders’

'The Wonders', a team of four students from Tanjong Katong Girls' School (TKGS) Interact Club will be staging a fund-raising concert on 25 August 2007 at TKGS. The event is in conjunction with the prestigious Citibank-YMCA Youth For Causes competition 2007 which allows schools to raise the most funds for their chosen voluntary welfare organizations. 'The Wonders' aim to raise $10,000 for the Association for Women for Action and Research (AWARE) youth programmes.

"I saw the extent of my peers starving themselves, going to extremes, and spending tons on makeovers, hoping to look like celebrities and their idols. I feel that they lack the confidence to present themselves. We are really tired of that, and know that something has to be done. We really hope to raise awareness and influence others to want to make the difference to their lives," said Nurul Syafina, team leader of 'The Wonders'.

By raising funds for AWARE's body-image sub committee, the girls hope to spread the awareness and articulate messages of self-affirmation and empowerment to young girls in Singapore.

Apart from special performances by Singapore Idol finalist, Paul Twohill, hip-hop duo, sleeQ and Norman Then, there will also be exciting song and dance performances by TKGS's own talents as well as other female performers from other schools. The event is a highly collaborative effort to involve and include as many young female talents as possible. Booths set up by TKGS’s very own entrepreneurial club, 'TK Towkay,' will be selling food and accessories to raise funds. AWARE’s President, Ms Constance Singam will also be attending as the Guest-of-Honour for the event.

For more information on GIRLGEMS, please contact:

Nurul Syafina

Team Leader, The Wonders

Tel: (65) 96574520

Chai Pei Shan

AWARE Volunteer/ Project Mentor
Tel: (65) 9823 8554

Email: girlgems@gmail.com

Blog: www.girlgems.blogspot.com

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

The Wonders

'The Wonders' consists of four passionate and creative TKGS girls: Syafina, Nadiah, Syafiqah, and Siti spearheading this fund-raising event – GIRLGEMS 2007. They hope to raise $10,000 for AWARE's youth programmes. GIRLGEMS 2007 is a creative charity fund raising, social entrepreneurship for Citibank-YMCA 'Youth-for-Causes' 2007.

Tanjong Katong Girls' School (TKGS)

Tanjong Katong Girls' School (TKGS) has a vibrant and dynamic performing arts/sporting culture that exposes our students to a wide range of experiences and opportunities to bring about peak performances and for character development. TKGS runs a robust academic programme, and has also provided opportunities for our girls to participate in various community service programmes through leveraging upon their talents and interests.

Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE)

Association of Women for Action and Research AWARE is a Charity with Institute of Public Character status.

AWARE’s youth programmes include comprehensive education programmes and workshops.

AWARE's mission is to promote a society that provides optimal opportunities for women and men to realise their highest potential. AWARE believes that gender stereotypes and discrimination benefits neither women nor men, and that gender equity is a necessary component of healthy families and societies. Formed in 1985, AWARE is the leading women's advocacy group in Singapore. AWARE's strengths lie in identifying social issues that adversely affect women and families, and in researching the causes and possible solutions of these issues.

For those who need immediate support, AWARE's helpline and counseling services help over 2500 women each year. AWARE also has an education arm that provides training on diverse issues such as self-esteem, sexuality, gender stereotypes and assertiveness. AWARE is supported by a large group of committed passionate volunteers, mainly women, but with increasing numbers of men.

girlgems banner !

2007-08-20T20:44:00.000-07:00

Research - "The Gift of Listening" blog

2007-08-19T10:04:00.000-07:00

While I was researching on eating disorders among youths in Singapore, I found many relevant links to blog posts, confessions and sharing of experiences among the online community.These are some of the real issues facing teens today.

Would like to share this very meaning blog 'The Gift of listening" with you...

Letters to Forum
http://www.giftoflistening.com/2007/08/too_thin_teens_letters_to_the.html

There are online resources to seek help, support or a listening ear
http://www.giftoflistening.com/resources.html

Eating Disorders Helpline - Tel: 6345-3435 (10:00am - 4:00pm Phone Mail Mon-Fri

Links:
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa And Related Eating Disorders

The story behind The Wonders

2007-08-19T08:53:00.000-07:00

Four girls have always harbored an extraordinary wish to make a big difference to the youths in their community. In June, a unique opportunity came when Syafina, heard about Citibank-YMCA Youth For Causes competition from their school principal, alongside the call to raise funds for Voluntary Welfare Organisation.

Her friends, Nadiah Bte Yuseli, 14, Syafiqah Syazwani, 14 and Siti Nurbuwwah, 13, also feel strongly against bingeing and purging in order to look or feel good about themselves. After hours of research, they discovered that eating disorder is on the rise among their peer. After brainstorming for ideas, they decided starting a campaign would be their first step.

‘The Wonders’, the passionate and highly-motivated team consists of four socially-conscious girls from Tanjong Katong Girls’ School (TKGS) Interact Club. Since June, the girls had embarked on this social enterprise project and ‘Girlgems 2007’ was born The TKGS girls behind this youth-initiative and fund-raising event hope to raise $10,000 for the Association for Women for Action and Research (AWARE) youth programmes.

Together with Peishan, AWARE volunteer from the body-image team, and Harmin, Centre Manager of AWARE, the team worked tirelessly with the help of the TKGS teachers, and principal, Mrs Phyllis Lim, to rally support from the whole school. Everyone did their part in gathering volunteers, calling for sponsorships and selling ticket.

The key fund-raising event is a concert held on 25 August at TKGS. ‘Girlgems 2007 – in aid of AWARE’, is a fun and hip youth event that invites young women from all walks of life to reaffirm their self-acceptance. It is an exciting event with talented female performers, vibrant dances, solo and group singing, which are held exclusively for youths ranging from ages 13 to 21.

It is a celebration of girls - Girlgems allows every young woman to appreciate herself for who she is and who she hopes to become. It is a validation of self. It's about being comfortable with who you are and recognizing your potential to be all that you can be. It is about being true to yourself. Casting aside archaic notions of women as Barbie dolls, or second-class citizens, the event encourages women to be first class citizens, to embrace new and healthier role models of success and beauty.

The event is graced by Guest-of-Honour - AWARE President, Ms Constance Singam. The line up of special performances includes Singapore Idol finalist, Paul Twohill, a hip-hop duo, sleeQ and Norman Then.

Their creative approach to social entrepreneurship involves a series of fun-filled entrepreneurial activities with ‘TK Towkay’ corner, booths selling food and accessories, and funds raised by wearing ethic costumes on Carnival Day and National Day celebrations. The resourceful girls tie in marketing efforts with self-designed blog (www.girlgems.blogspot.com), that features interesting footages of the auditions.

As part of the community and public outreach efforts, AWARE invites residents from the youth welfare homes, Pertapis Centre for Women and Girls (PCWG), in the hope that the message behind this meaningful concert resonates with the audience and builds on their self esteem.

For ‘The Wonders’ themselves, it is also a process of self-discovery and reaching out to the community and working towards a good cause. It is also a wonderful time to celebrate girls’ pride and forging new friendships!

Come to GIRLGEMS concert on 25 Aug@TKGS. Book your tickets today!

2007-08-14T09:55:00.001-07:00

In the news - Eating Disorders "Too thin teens" - Sunday Times

2007-08-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Too thin teens

12 August 2007

Straits Times

By Tan Dawn Wei & Bryna Sim

Anorexia cases here are up and the attitude of some teens that it's hip to have the illness has doctors worried

ALL she wanted was for her sisters to stop calling her 'fat' and 'bimbo' and to win more friends at school.

And the best way to get there, she felt, was to lose the baby fat on her face. But that led her straight to hospital and 'humiliating' treatment for anorexia nervosa.

The 14-year-old's plight is sadly typical of most sufferers of the eating disorder.

Like many victims, Michelle - not her real name - is from a middle-income family, goes to an elite girls' school and does well in her studies.

Her problems started last year in Secondary 1.

Taunted by her classmates and sisters, she started rejecting food, eating only vegetables and small spoonfuls of rice for dinner, sometimes her only meal for the day.

'All the girls around me were very thin and they all seemed to have many friends. I felt very left out,' said the pale, rail-thin teenager in between sobs.

When a school trip came up earlier this year, a teacher noticed her bony frame and sallow face and decided she was not well enough to go. The school counsellor then alerted her parents.

By the time Michelle's mother, Mrs Lim, checked her into the eating disorder programme at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) last month, the 1.5m-tall teen had lost 10kg in six months and weighed just 29.5kg. She should be at least 42kg to qualify as healthy.

Mrs Lim has since taken Michelle out of SGH after objecting to its order of complete bed rest. Michelle could not shower for days and had to use a bed pan, which her mum called 'humiliating'. She also wrote to The Sunday Times and Singapore Children's Society to complain about the treatment.

But her illness did not come as a complete surprise to Mrs Lim as she had been through it herself.

'I was hoping it wasn't anorexia, but I was in denial,' said the private tutor. 'I didn't want her to end up like me.'

Michelle, who still suffers from hair loss, severe constipation and insomnia, returned to school last Wednesday, but dealing with her illness will be a 'long, hard process', said Mrs Lim.

It is a traumatic story that is becoming increasingly common here. There are no statistics on eating disorders, but a 2005 study cited 126 cases of anorexia seen by the Institute of Mental Health from 1994 to 2002.

Before 2002, SGH, the only hospital here with an eating disorders programme, saw about 20 to 30 patients a year. Last year, it saw 200.

What is concerning professionals is the attitude of some of the teens who see anorexia as hip.

'There is a copycat effect. It's like an 'in' thing among girls, especially those in girls' schools and universities,' said Dr Liow Pei Hsiang, consultant at Alexandra Hospital's psychiatry unit, where the number of patients seeking treatment for eating disorders has doubled in four years.

And so it is. Michelle and her classmates fight to be the skinniest in class. 'We would try to outdo each other by seeing who ate less that day, or who exercised more,' she said.

The most common eating disorders are anorexia, in which a sufferer severely restricts food intake, and bulimia nervosa, which involves bingeing and purging.

They hit females 10 times more than males. Females in adolescence and their 20s are particularly vulnerable, said Dr Lee Ee Lian, senior consultant psychiatrist and director of the SGH eating disorders programme.

At least one top girls' school, Methodist Girls' School, has seen a slight rise in the number of students with eating disorders but counsellor Ann Robers declined to give figures.

Teachers have been given checklists designed by Mrs Robers to help identify girls who may suffer from any psychological problems, including eating disorders.

The students are also regularly weighed in physical education class - if their weight drops sharply, the counsellor and parents are notified.

The Health Promotion Board is monitoring the issue and organises seminars for teachers and school counsellors on dealing with various health issues, including eating disorders.

SGH's Dr Lee has seen her fair share of truly challenging cases over the years, like several teen patients with body mass indexes (BMI) of nine and who were so weak they could not speak or swallow. The healthy BMI range is from 18.5 to 22.9.

One anorexic woman was hospitalised 50 times in four years while another had severe psychotic depression. 'She heard voices telling her to kill herself, which she eventually did,' said Dr Lee.

The eating disorders programme loses one patient every year to suicide, pneumonia and starvation. Not all suffer from eating disorders exclusively; some may have other psychological problems.

Studies put the mortality rate of eating disorders at between 5 and 20 per cent. But even if you do not die from it, there could be long-term effects like brain atrophy, osteoporosis and infertility.

Dr Ken Ung, of Adam Road Hospital, says 10 to 20 per cent of those afflicted never recover.

'Every time I see a case, I pray and try every trick in the book. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't,' said Dr Ung, who treats up to 50 new cases a year. 'You can say, 'You're not getting out of here until you put on 5kg'. But when she leaves, she stops eating again.'

One 13-year-old sufferer who is determined never to starve herself again is June (not her real name).

Last year, the 1.53m-tall teen ate only bread and hit her condo's gym every day. 'I would look in the mirror and still think that I was fat, although I was actually very skinny. I wanted to eat, yet I told myself I hated food because I was afraid that I would get fat.'

She was always tired, getting styes and coughs that would last for months.

After her weight plummeted from 40kg to 32kg in the first four months of last year, she started to will herself to eat and is now 43kg.

The youngest of three children of a university lecturer and housewife can proudly say she wolves down four slices of pizza at one sitting. 'And I feel like a whole new person,' she said.

SELF-DELUSIONAL

'I would look in the mirror and still think that I was fat, although I was actually very skinny. I wanted to eat, yet I told myself I hated food because I was afraid that I would get fat.' JUNE, 13

Eating Disorders

2007-08-14T07:58:00.000-07:00

In this ward, nurses check to ensure meals are finished

12 August 2007

Straits Times
By Bryna Sim & Tan Dawn Wei

ENTERING Ward 46A at the Singapore General Hospital takes a bit of doing.

Visitors to Singapore's only eating disorder treatment ward must navigate a maze on the sixth floor of Block 4, before reaching the ward tucked away in a corner.

Bags and pockets are checked to ensure no one is sneaking in food, as patients are on strict dietary and weight-monitoring regimes.

Once inside, the silent presence of painfully thin, pale girls greets you. Each sub-ward houses about five to six patients.

The days are not regimented except for two things - dreaded by patients - meal and supplement times.

'They are the most stressful parts of the day,' said 14-year-old Michelle (not her real name), whose mother had her discharged after a three-week-long stay.

Patients said they get an hour to finish their food. Nurses peer at plates and bowls and if they leave so much as a piece of chicken fat or rice grain, the meal is marked as 'incomplete'.

That spells trouble for patients as it means they will have to swallow one more supplement on top of the three they take a day.

Desperate means

NURSES readily admit they have become stricter and craftier over the years as they try to keep up with the girls' creative ways of making food disappear.

Some patients throw up right after a meal, shovel food into their hospital gown pockets or even hide it between their sheets.

'We used to allow them to toast food, but they would just burn it deliberately,' said one nurse.

But hunger fuels their creative juices. The girls say they compete to see who succeeds in not gaining weight as the days go by.

Lynette (not her real name), 13, even did star jumps in the shower to try to burn off calories. She was caught and doctors apparently ordered Complete Rest In Bed (Crib) for the four girls in the sub-ward.

That meant they could not shower or use the bathroom for days on end. All bowel movements are done using a bed pan.

Even standing on the bed is banned.

For their own good

SUCH methods prompted Michelle's mum, a 43-year-old home tutor, to write to the Singapore Children's Society and The Sunday Times describing them as 'sadistic, inhumane and humiliating'.

The senior consultant psychiatrist and director of SGH's programme, Dr Lee Ee Lian, said Crib is meant to be 'life-saving and curative, not punitive'.

Defiant but dangerously sick patients who refuse to eat sometimes have to be strapped down or force-fed through a tube, say doctors.

A specialist at Adam Road Hospital, Dr Ken Ung, said: 'Such treatment methods are primitive. But they have worked.'

The girls behind this BIG project

2007-08-13T09:58:00.001-07:00

This project is an intiative of four girls from the TKGS Interact Club ...

The TKGS Interact Club is the youth wing of the Rotary Club of Singapore. It is an organization for schools all around the world to help students get involved in leadership and service. Interact, which comes from inter (national) act (ivity), enables us to interact more with the society and take part in other community involvement programmes. These in turn open up our eyes to the world of the less privileged and broaden our horizons.

The newly founded Interact Club in TKGS, is a club launched for pupils who are keen in making a difference in other people's lives. Interactors will be given a chance to learn the skills of interacting with different groups of people through various activities and components of community service. One such example would be the BP Mentoring which started in the year 2004, where Interactors mentor students from Tanjong Katong Primary School and Haig Girls' Primary. Interactors will also have the opportunity to travel overseas to meet with other interactors from various countries to learn and share experiences, as well as to exchange cultures. This will allow our members to be exposed to what we do not encounter in our everyday life. Our theme for the Installation is " Sol Eterna : Eternal Sunshine". This represents our Club's intention ? to keep on shining and bring warmth to every nation in the world.

Thanks for the guidance and support by Ms Gladys Hoy :)

A Sneak Peek ...

2007-08-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

"Barbie"

2007-08-10T11:09:00.000-07:00

Some months back, I did a project on Barbie culture, exploring the consumptions of norms and ideals of beauty.

Do you live a life like Barbie's?
Growing up, do you idolise or wish you can be Barbie and why?

Barbie Doll – Marge Piercy

This girlchild was born as usual

And presented dolls that did pee-pee

and miniature GE stoves and irons

and wee lipsticks the colour of cherry candy.

Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said:

You have a great big nose and fat legs.

She was healthy, tested intelligent,

Possessed strong arms and back,

Abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity.

She went to and fro apologizing,

Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs.

She was advised to play coy,

Exhorted to come on hearty,

Exercise, diet, smile and wheedle.

Her good nature wore out

Like a fan belt,

So she cut off her nose and legs

And offered them up.

In the casket displayed on satin she lay

With the undertaker’s cosmetics painted on, a turned-up putty nose,

Dressed in a pink and white nightie.

Doesn’t she look pretty? Everyone said.

Consummation at last.

To every woman a happy ending.

Girlgems Auditions

2007-08-09T10:27:00.000-07:00

girlgems auditions were held on 21 and 28 July at TKGS hall.
6 teams are going into the finals on 25 Aug, STAY TUNED!

The Wonders

2007-08-09T08:26:00.001-07:00

The young and aspiring social entrepreneurs

The Wonders: Nadiah, Syafina, Syafiqah (L-R)
and Siti (not in photo)

SUPPORT US!

Photographer: 'Mentor' Peishan, ex-tkgian and AWARE volunteer

8pm at Bugis, Delifrance
BUSY WITH PROJECT!

take ONE...

TKGS celebrates National Day Celebrations with Carnival Day

2007-08-08T12:13:00.000-07:00

National Day Celebrations cum Carnival Day on
8th August 2007

On Wednesday 8 August, the TKGian community will be celebrating National Day through community service. Every year, the school creates opportunities for the students to plan activities for the community on Carnival Day. This year, the school has merged our National Day and Carnival Day celebrations.

On 8 August, TKGians will be involved in a host of activities. They will host our guests from various community groups who will be joining us for the celebrations. At TKGS, the students believe that small acts of kindness will go a long way, especially if it comes from the heart. Community spiritedness is imbedded in the school's culture. In previous years, the school started off by showing the students how to be involved in community programmes. The perseverance of the school has paid off in that now the students are coming forward and initiating their own projects to serve the community.

Besides being involved in planning the activities, TKGians are also encouraged to support 'Be Yourself Day', a community service initiative in support of causes like AWARE ( A ssociation for W omen for A ction and RE search). TKGians will show their support for the cause by making a donation and coming to school dressed in their ethnic costumes or red and white outfits.

See latest news>>

Photos coming up!

Famous TKGian

2007-08-05T10:59:00.000-07:00

FAMOUS TKGGians and more....
Dr Kanwaljit Soin (AWARE founder and ex-President, Ex-TKGian)
Ruby (Act3)
Felicia Chin - MediaCorp actress (softball, ex tkgs, vjc; Graduated 2000)
Jade Seah - Miss Singapore Universe 2006 runner-up and MediaCorp host (Graduated 1999)
Halimah Yacob - Member of Parliament
Suzanne Ho - ChannelNewsAsia Newscaster

Support TKGS and AWARE... BOOK A SPOT NOW!

2007-08-05T10:40:00.001-07:00

>> To purchase ticket, email: girlgems@gmail.com
or go to TKGS at 20, Dunman Lane, Singapore 439272
For directions, see >>

Support 'The Wonders' - TKGS! Youth-for-causes

Tanjong Katong Girls' School Presents
GIRLGEMS 2007

Date: 25 August 2007, Saturday
Venue: Tanjong Katong Girls' School, TKGS Hall
Time: 6
(Doors open at 6pm)

Ticket price:
$12 - Seating
$8 - Standing

Light refreshments will be sold.
Parking fee: $2
*Limited carpark space

in aid of AWARE.

Proceeds of this fund-raising event go towards AWARE youth programmes.

For details see eTicket (click on images below)

GIRL GEMS Auditions!

2007-07-25T10:01:00.000-07:00

Public Images of Women

2007-07-20T11:17:00.000-07:00

:: Public Images of Women ::

........

Some months back, in April, I attended a drama workshop conducted by YOUTH@AWARE
here's some reflections ...

the fantastic AWARE drama workshop that I attended last Saturday from 1.30 to 5.30pm. In that room at aware centre, there are about 15 participants - from old women aged 60s to ladies in 20s - im one of the youngest. From different race, personality and background. Seriously, there's so such diversity and strong vibes in the room! The session was very thought-out and well-planned. At the outset, we were told to do a simple movement to introduce ourselve to the group. Can see some very curve and some very sharp moves, some natural and creative ones! Then we share stories we heard before (fables, stories) that had girls inside - Little Match Stick girl, Cinderalla, Nezha, Little Red Riding hood and discussed the meanings and stereotypes behind each. From there, we dramatise our story in 3 movements within 15min. My group (5 people) did the little red riding hood story and finally we had pose in a final position to capture with a static shot of story - what would it be? Not easy. That last FREEZE pose had to convey the whole meaning and convey the ESSENCE of the story(expression, emotions, facial expression) of the story. Little Red Riding hood, was it shock? or how smart the girl was to outwit the wolf? What are the critical dimensions to explore? The whole group then analyze that last frozen pose, the interplay of central characters and team together with our movements - Morphing. Very creative dramatisation among all the women, very expressive performance... we are all beginners in this! The next activity is my favourite! Browsing through women's magazines, cut, tear and pasting on paper - the themes,analyzing representations of women in those magazine, and re-creating them in our work of art - what are the messages, how women was protrayed and depicted in ads. Words describing and associated with the ads were written near the edge the ads. Media representation and what it tells us -HOW WOMEN were protrayed by the media. After which, each of us explore the 3D to 2D effect- lie down in a position that we want, a posture that best captured how we felt towards the whole session so far. Then we outline the person's body with crayons. These overlapping layers, gives new meanings and inspiration to more words and new creations. VOila! A piece of art that encapsulated our reflections, our ideas, our perceptions of HOW WE VIEW OURSELVES AS WOMEN (from our perpectives) in the inner circle...and how that differs from external representation by media and others.

Some questions to ponder:
Are we affect by these images? Are we challenging these? We then stood around our art and took turns to draw/illustrate with words what we "saw" from the visuals, or ideas or words that sprung to mind when we are looking at each other... the looks on our faces, our reaction to each word, emotions that beyond the layer, within us, the vibes conveyed from our interaction to words to dramatisation to action! The feeling of liberation...

The meanings of being, are fluid and changing. This is continously shaped and negotiated by our actions, thoughts, behaviour, emotions, values and representations of others and on ourselves. (as part of society) The notion of morphing, with our interpretations and ideals of self and others. Then we retold our first story that we dramatise with our movements and made changes....the difference was starck. The two representation had taken new meanings, incorporated new representation. We were inspired by one another. MORPHING rethinking what a women means to us. After the illustration, we paired up to write a story on what story we can tell or share with our children next time. The group beside me had a tale of black men and make up of the gal (metaphor); the new girl i met is a vocalist - we wrote a short story 5 lines...about a blind girl who aspires to be the first president of Singapore, ostrasized by society, when she regain her sight, she went to pursue her dream. was kinnda juiced out on ideas by 5pm on sat afternoon. Interestingly, one way of seeing is another way of not seeing....Noorlinah interpreted it as, when she was blinded - shecouldn't, when she lost it, (when she regain her sight), she became.

Many interesting stories were told, with their own fusion of ideas, lovely sharing! There's one told by Noorlinah... In her mind, she travels. A girl lives in a house full of sharp objects, of glass, of knives.. In the morning, she faces and is surrrounded by sharpness. Come 9pm, she jumps into bed, below her blanket, she travels on vessels, on ships....story repeats..then ending was she grow up to be essentric and electic. Then Noors laughs as she ends her story...The story sounded nice, with rhyming words and the tone narrated by Noor sets the mood for a lovely story to be told. Much to think about the message behind it. Another story was a the black men and how they painted the girl and one day, the mask was removed.. JooH. told of the growth of a girl to adulthood, to old age..."when you were born, you were crying; when you leave the world, you laugh and others cry. Another tells of the boy who held on to the chocolate and didnt eat it along the way, while others did and had many ways to do it along the journey, while he kept it to share with his sister at the end, as promised. It was the hope that kept him alive. We had to choose a story from the whole group and dramatise in 3 moves. Coincidently, and unplanned, 2 groups - my group and another did the black men one. both group was very different in the dramatisation. VERY!
At the end of the session, each of us wrote a letter to ourself , " Dear Peishan, .." and wrote what we learn and what one say ourself. After today's workshop, I felt liberated in some sense. The representation of ideas, and interaction with this group of special women gave me strength and new perspective of things. We also ended the session with a body movement that we started - presenting a movement that best represent one self, the essence of you as a person. The session was facilitated by president of SDEA - Noorlinah (a very vibrant chinese lady) - part time teacher at Laselle, conducts classes for the prisons. Next up in may is a drama workshop that helps bonding between parents and children. Felicia volunteers at North light sch. Both with so much passion in drama. Thanks Joo Hymn for organising this wondering session. The new exco is headed by ex-AWARE president Constance Singam. see SDEA singapore.drama.educators.association >> http://www.sdea.org.sg

We then stood around our art and took turns to draw/illustrate with words what we "saw" from the visuals, or ideas or words that sprung to mind when we are looking at each other...how we had inspired each other... the looks on our faces, our reaction to each word, our imaginations, our (hidden) emotions, the layering, the diversity of women present in the room reminds me of the stages of growth (from youth - women), the vibes conveyed from our interaction to words to dramatisation to action! The feeling of liberation...

OUTSIDE ( how the world view us media representation and images) nuturer earth burden balanced life self-esteem lies glamourous fragilty body dysmorphic symdrome commodity self-care sensual sexual objects ::what we view ourselves::

connecting warm calm simple lovely true real beautiful creative capable assertive enthusiatic leader united feel hope faith tigress enigma natural spiritual powerful athlete controversial confidence choice inner happiness kaidolescope of colours dynamic vibrant positivity courage child like stoic contentment innovative enigma peace reality transforming strong and creative mind able centred will growth strength compassionate conquer multi-faceted

By PeiShan

The Spirit of TKGS

2007-07-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

Girlgems is about YOU and everything you CAN be.

2007-07-11T10:48:00.000-07:00

:: Girlgems ::

Background

The extent to which young women will go to achieve the unattainable goal of a body beautiful, is alarming: According to recent media reports, the number of young women suffering from eating disorders in Singapore has increased six fold since 1994, affecting younger women the most. Less than 25% of women describe themselves as beautiful and thousands are turning to cosmetic surgery. Despite being increasingly emancipated, these indicators suggest that young Singaporean women suffer from poor self-image and feel the pressure of having to conform to a certain standard of beauty.

Images of the ideal beauty are all around us in one form or another. These emphasize a narrow definition of how a woman should look and link women's appearances to their worth. It is hardly surprising that these images perpetuate the mindset that society has widely acknowledged. At the end of the day, the decision lies with us, the young women. We hope more women will take control of the situation and make the empowered choice of resisting these ideal notions of beauty.

The narrow definition of beauty offered by media images and society's mindset has left most young women walking a tightrope. As young women, let's work towards rejecting the beauty myth and reclaiming our body in an empowered way.

To this end, we are organizing a hip, fun and attractive event to promote confidence within one's self regardless of shape, size and colour which has an impact on younger women.

Concept

We have decided to name our event "Girlgems" as we believe that every girl is as unique, dazzling, sparkling and special in their own way, just like a gem.

Girlgems invites women from all walks of life to love themselves, to reaffirm their self-acceptance. Casting aside archaic notions of women as Barbie dolls, or second-class citizens, the event encourages women to be first class citizens, to embrace new and healthier role models of success and beauty.

Girlgems allows every woman to appreciate herself for what she is and what she hopes to become. It is a validation of self. It's about being comfortable with who you are and recognizing your potential to be all that you can be. It is about being true to yourself.

Girlgems is about YOU and everything you CAN be.

It is an all-female event held exclusively for youths ageing ranging from 13 to 21.This would be held on the 25th of August. Only females are allowed to participate in the competition. However, males are allowed to attend the event as a part of the audience. In this event, performing arts groups from several Secondary schools and Junior Colleges will be taking part in a competition, by performing basically anything that would promote self-esteem and confidence. They would have to form teams or participate in the solo category and perform a dance or a song.

Objectives

Through this event, we aim to positively impact on younger women in Singapore so that more women would be confident enough as themselves and not attempt to become anyone of the unhealthy media icons.

Our target is to raise $10,000 for AWARE (Association of Women for Action and Research). AWARE is a registered Charity formed in 1985 that serves to provide women with optimal opportunities to realise their full potential.

The proceeds raised through the event will go to the youth public education programmes at AWARE. The funds raised will go a long way towards developing youth programs and workshops on self-esteem/body image, and other such programmes targeted at risky youth behaviour. The youth programmes under AWARE Training Institute serve to educate and empower youths to cope with the pressures of being young women and provide them with the skills, knowledge and information to make informed and responsible decisions. The funds will also benefit the research and campaign on Body Image.

We hope that sponsors will come forward and support us in our efforts to raise awareness to the issues of positive self–esteem in younger women, whilst raising funds for a worthy cause. If there are any sponsors who are willing to help, or any associations, companies or organisations who are willing to help with publicity, we would really appreciate it.

"GIRLGEMS" is born...!!

2007-06-13T06:11:00.000-07:00

A group of socially-conscious and enterprising TKGS girls are preparing to raise funds for AWARE.

See Citibank-YMCA Youth for Causes 2007 for details here

More to come, stay tune!