Article by Shane
Storyblog by Euclea Tan, Verlyn Ku, Natalie Lim and Andrew Sutjipto
Booklet Overview
August has arrived, and it is once again time to celebrate the long-awaited National Day! Singapore has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1965 and in a mere span of fifty-five years, we have grown into a bustling and developed cosmopolitan. In this month’s issue of the Activity Booklet, we will be taking a trip down memory lane, reliving the past memories of Singapore and its remarkable journey to where it is today. Our journey has not been one that is smooth-sailing, but it is the will of the people that have brought us so far and will continue doing so even in the face of global uncertainty in the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The August Issue of the Activity Booklet also seeks to place great emphasis on the maintenance of good mental health. Social restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on many individuals, as seen by the surge in mental health-related cases both locally and globally as reported by Today. Thus, it is all the more important that one has to take proactive steps to ensure the maintenance of one’s mental health, through participating in activities that engage one’s physical and mental capacities while keeping track of one’s mental health. The Groundwork Committee has indeed put in remarkable thought and effort into the creation of the August Issue of the Activity Booklet, designing activities that are not only fun and engaging, but are also practical and educational for the seniors.
Whatsapp Walkthrough Part Two : Communication amidst Physical Restrictions
The August Activity Booklet seeks to alleviate the obstacle posed by social restrictions on social interactions through lessons in the use of WhatsApp, a free and user-friendly social messaging application. A continuation of the July Issue, these activities seek to guide users on the creation of WhatsApp groups, sending of voice messages and video calling, users will then be able to continue maintaining social interaction with friends and families despite the physical limitations imposed on social gatherings. Social communication is an important aspect in the maintenance of our mental healths, as we humans are all social creatures that require an outlet to express our feelings and share our concerns and happiness with others.
Keeping Active : Health is Wealth
As many might be wary of stepping out of their home in the current situation, it is also important that emphasis is placed on being physically active. Being physically active does not necessarily mean that one has to exercise, but one can also participate in less-intensive activities to ensure physical movement. ‘Shopping Time’ and ‘Healthy Recipe’ seeks to promote an active lifestyle, encouraging seniors to plan their grocery shopping, purchasing the groceries as planned so as to cook the delicious Korean Egg Rolls as per the recipe! However, it is also important to educate seniors on the practice of proper handwashing so as to ensure that each trip outside one’s house will be a safe and hygienic one to protect oneself from the risk of infections.
That being said, it is also important for one to remain mentally active. Though the inclusion of a myriad of mentally simulating mazes and mathematical puzzles, the August Issue of the Activity Booklet will help ensure that seniors are engaging in a wide range of cognitive abilities to improve their memory and thinking abilities to remain young at mind, for ‘age is a state of mind’. Moreover, the inclusion of a QR Code Game will help take two pigeons with one bean, as it does not only allow one to put on one’s thinking cap, but also allows for one to learn the use of QR technology in a world where QR code is prevalent, notably in the use of SafeEntry when travelling around Singapore.
Food For Thought : A Brighter Future Ahead
With National Day around the corner, it is important that we remain optimistic for the future ahead of us. However, we should seek to pursue long-term optimism as opposed to a short-term surge in optimism as a result of National Day celebrations, and thus it is always important for each and every senior to engage in activities that will keep us physically and mentally active, to be in a good state of mental health so as to seek happiness in the future just as one has done in the past and present. Batch Project 2020 will not have been the success that it has been if not for the sheer dedication and enthusiasm exhibited by the respective committees involved in the entire process. We, as individuals, should always strive to continuously contribute to society to make our country a better place, just as Batch Project 2020 had helped engaged seniors in a time of uncertainty.
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