AWARE is 21!

Tonight was the big bash for AWARE's 21st anniversary. I'm having a "I could have danced all night" moment (if only the music was better!) again (the first was after the sold-out film gala of "Singapore Dreaming" - I'll write more about that later, if I have time to catch up with the last 7 months!).

There is truly so much to celebrate, we only need to remember to look. And looking around the room tonight, I felt so truly blessed and so very grateful for all that I have. Soul sisters working for a common cause, mentors, old friends, new acquaintances, and women who have come to mean so much to me, who I truly care for, and who cares for me. More than anything else, AWARE has always been about the space to be whoever you want to be and the bonds of friendship. I had almost forgotten in the stress of being President, but tonight brought it all back to me.

It was a party to remember.

I like my speech so much, it's pasted below :)

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. The theme for this evening is Aware celebrates! And what a lot we have to celebrate! Turning 21 – a momentous occasion for sure, for anybody, and what more, a dynamic feminist like Aware! Being finally recognized first as a charity then as an Institute of Public Character (IPC) – hey, you get tax exemptions for your donations now – so keep those coming! The recent changes in law. And twenty-one years of action and research, and good solid camaraderie and friendship.

Being in a women’s organization, a feminist organization that advocates for women in a society that is largely still conservative , we see so many gaps in laws and policies, so much of the downside, so many women who have been through so much that it’s easy to overlook the silver linings, to miss the small mercies and down play the victories. Once in a while, I think it is useful and rejuvenating to forget about the long road ahead, and just look back and focus on all the wonderful things that have happened, and truly, wholeheartedly unreservedly celebrate and be grateful.

the early feminists who won for women the right to vote, to education, to a career. The founding members of Aware who had the vision and the courage to start something as outlandish as a feminist organization in Singapore, the stalwarts who won for women the right to protection from domestic violence, the male chapter now carrying the torch for the White Ribbon Campaign which was at Orchard Cineleisure this afternoon (and I see some of you wearing the ribbons now). Wah Kiat will have the pleasure of sharing with you in more detail and of presenting the wonderful TV ad done by a volunteer student from NTU.

I would especially like to thank the sponsors who made this evening possible:

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Last but not least, our own Aware volunteers, Pei Shan for the design of the eflyer and anniversary magazine, Sabina and Elizabeth for helping organize this entire event, and all our dedicated volunteers too numerous to name, and of course the Aware staff, Harmin, Joy, Soo Leng, Deeksha, May and Lin for all your hard work and commitment throughout the whole year.

Tomorrow, we go back and look at all that still needs to be done, most immediately about the Penal Code amendments and the marital rape exemption. But tonight, tonight, we relax, enjoy our glass of wine, and we celebrate and appreciate ourselves and one another for who we are and as fellow travelers in the journey towards gender equity.

A toast – to a fantastically fun evening, and to women, and of course to Aware!