Date
26/06/2021 - 27/06/2021
Time
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
We each have a unique story behind our beliefs and worldview. Have you ever wondered how folks around the world come to embrace secularism and humanism? To celebrate the annual World Humanist Day, Humanist Society Singapore will be telling “Stories from around Asia” over the weekend of 26-27 June 2021. Join us for a series of talks over Zoom by local and regional speakers as well as a representative from our umbrella organisation, Humanist International.
Capacity is limited, so please sign up and indicate your attendance in the registration form at the bottom of this page!
Programme
| Session | Date | Time (SGT/UTC+8) | Speaker | Organization/Affiliation |
| 1 | 26 Jun 2021 (Sat) | 11AM – 1PM | Uttam Niraula | President, Society for Humanism |
| Pepper Lim | Malaysian Atheists & Secular Humanists | |||
| Javan Lev Poblador | Young Humanist International | |||
| 2 | 26 Jun 2021 (Sat) | 4PM – 6PM | Emma Wadsworth-Jones | Humanists at Risk Coordinator |
| Sami Abdallah | President, Freethought Lebanon | |||
| Rashvin Ismath | Council of Ex-Muslims of Sri-Lanka | |||
| 3 | 27 Jun 2021 (Sun) | 2PM – 4PM | Faheema Nazhath | hash.peace |
| Vincent Ng | A Good Space |
Speaker Line-up
Session 1 – 26 Jun 2021 (Sat) 11AM – 1PM
Uttam Niraula
Board member of Humanists International and founder of Society for Humanism (SOCH), the only registered Humanist organization in Nepal. He is also a founder of Asian Chapter of Humanists Youth (previously IHEYO). A journalist and social worker by profession, Uttam works for WHO and the Ministry for Health (Nepal) and Population during COVID-19 pandemic to organise information for effective response. He has written six books in Nepali and several articles to promote Humanism.
Pepper Lim
Pepper Lim once thought he was chosen by God to serve Him. So, instead of going to university like all his friends, he went to Bible college. He served in full-time church work and devoted his service to the church for many years until he couldn’t answer some questions that troubled him. Today, he spends his time trying to make the world a better place by starting a science club and raising money by cycling to China.
Javan Lev Poblador
Javan joined Humanists International as Young Humanists International Coordinator and Social Media Consultant in February 2021. He works with young humanists worldwide, focusing on their development and growth as humanists. He also manages the social media platforms of Humanists International and assists in creating materials to promote humanism.
Before joining Humanists International, Javan has been active in community work zeroing on environmental conservation, climate justice, human rights, and civic engagement advocacies since 2012. He is currently the Chief Executive of Humanists Alliance Philippines International, a government registered and progressive humanist organization in the Philippines that stands for human rights, secular education and strives for a world free from violence and division.
Javan is the co-founder and former pioneer president of the Association of Young Environmental Journalists, a youth-led environmental media organization. He is also the former Director for Design and Creatives of ATO-ClimatEducate Project, scholar alumni of Temasek Foundation International – Specialists Community Action and Leadership Exchange program in Singapore, and represented the Philippines during the ASEAN Plus Three Youth Environment Forum 2019 in Thailand.
Session 2 – 26 Jun 2021 (Sat) 4PM – 6PM
Emma Wadsworth-Jones
Emma joined Humanists International as its first Humanists at Risk Coordinator in April 2020. She is responsible for managing Humanists International’s casework and campaigning activities on behalf of humanists at risk, working in coordination with the rest of the team and our members and partners. Before joining Humanists International, Emma gained more than seven years’ experience in casework and campaigning across Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East at PEN International.
Sami Abdallah
Sami Abdallah is the president and co-founder of Freethought Lebanon and a diligent Lebanese civil society activist. A theoretical physicist by profession, Sami is passionate about both pursuing scientific truth and defending basic human rights.
Rashvin Ismath
Rishvin Ismath is a Sri Lanka activist. The co-founder and spokesperson of the Council of Ex-Muslim of Sri Lanka. He is currently facing serious threats against his life as a result of his non-belief and advocacy for humanist values.
Session 3 – 27 Jun 2021 (Sun) 2PM – 4PM
Nazhath Faheema
Nazhath Faheema, the Founder of hash.peace movement, is an advocate of racial & religious diversity. She undertakes initiatives that promote the cultivation of a peacekeeping culture at homes and workplaces. She believes formation of micro inclusive societies based on interpersonal relations keeping the society safe from sentiments of extremism and radical ideologies.
Her journey in this mission started when she was nominated as a Muslim Youth Ambassador for Peace by Jamiyah Missionary in Singapore in 2015. Since then, Faheema has worked in pursuit of promoting a culture of peace. She founded the hash. peace movement through which she catalyses conversations about multiculturalism and inclusiveness in Singapore. She organises focus group discussions, one-to-one conversations and other activities with the aim to create awareness of the influence of terror ideology among youths.
Vincent Ng
Vincent is the General Manager for the A Good Space Co-operative, a collective of diverse changemakers, advocates, entrepreneurs, etc who believe in creating social change, together. From raising $1.12 million for individuals and families financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to galvanising the public to donate over 2,400 care packs for migrant brothers during NDP 2020, the collective continues to discover new possibilities that we can unlock when we work together.
As a person in recovery from a mental health condition, he first became involved in community issues as a result of his diagnosis, organizing Singapore’s first Happiness Festival and co-authoring a book titled Why You Should Fail. Over the years, he has cultivated a passion for education and contributing to positive social change, in whatever way he can.
