It has been a difficult year for the world, with many nations still struggling to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. In the fight against the virus, prolonged lockdowns have affected livelihoods, separated families, grounded air travel, and brought a chill to festive seasons not seen in many decades. Healthcare personnel have also sacrificed their time, and sometimes their lives, in the frontline effort against the pandemic. Overall, the pandemic has put humanity as a whole to a severe test.
In this year, the Executive Committee of the Humanist Society (Singapore) have tried our best to keep the Society’s activities going, both online and offline whenever restrictions allow them. Against the odds, we try to provide a support community for the non-religious and to do good for goodness sake.
As we bid farewell to 2020, here’s a look back at some key moments.
World Humanist Week
We held World Humanist Week from 21-27 June. More than 60 people, including some guests from overseas, met over Zoom. For the first time, we combined our World Humanist Day with our Pink Dot activities and a third event that will hold discussions on humanism. With the continued Covid-19 pandemic, we also distributed many “ear savers” to our members who need it.
Launching New Merchandise
In celebration of Singapore’s 55th birthday in August, we launched new red and white humanist bottles and mugs at discounted prices: humanist mug at $9.90 each, and a humanist bottle at $12 each. This offer ended on 21 Aug 2020, midnight.
Our NDP promotional sale was a success. We have 92 mugs in inventory and more than half of the mugs were snapped up within 10 days of the sale.
Our volunteers travelled across the island in person this weekend to deliver the mugs to customers, providing a much needed personal touch to the humanist community during Phase 2.
Remembering James Randi
James Randi, a magician and paranormal debunker better known professionally as “The Amazing Randi,” has died at 92 this year. The Society hosted an online commemoration for fans and admirers to remember Randi’s work as a magician and skeptic. Read about our reflection here.
Engaging the Elderly
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world hard. In such times, when social distancing was enforced, vulnerable sectors of the population were disproportionately affected. This includes the elderly. The stream of volunteers bringing life to Thong Teck Home for Senior Citizens had slowed significantly.
Volunteers from Humanist Society collaborated with other volunteers from VolunteerSG and the National University of Singapore to organise ZOOMba Gold in June. Zoom calls were set up between the volunteers and the seniors in Thong Teck Home. During these sessions, volunteers led seniors through Zumba, a type of exercise that combines cardio, muscle conditioning, balance and flexibility.
On 25 October 2020, Humanist Society volunteers returned to Thong Teck Home for Senior Citizens to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with them. We distributed mooncakes and food items to seniors, played some icebreaker games where volunteers and seniors can get to know each other better, and moved on to the conduct a Zumba session with them, exercising to our hearts content!
Celebrant services
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced many couples to adjust their wedding plans. Our Humanist Celebrant, Tatt Si, continued conducting Humanist weddings in Singapore. In August, he was the celebrant for couple Kristin and John, held at Open Community Farm, a restaurant hidden in a corner of Dempsey, Read about his experience here.
Internship
From September to October 2020, we hired an operations intern, Lionel Cheah. During his internship, he organized the weekly Mindfulness Meditation sessions, a Mid-Autumn Festival celebration at the Thong Teck Home for Senior Citizens, and helped with monthly Peer Support Group sessions. Read about his experience here.
Beach cleanup
This year, the Humanist Society launched an annual initiative called National Day Community Service. where every year in August, we will roll up our sleeves and take part in various projects to help the needy and protect the environment. In August, we organised a beach cleanup at East Coast Park, our first physical event since the Circuit Breaker.
Hiking at Southern Ridges
On 26 September 2020, the Humanist Society organized a hike at the Southern Ridges. With most of us still working from home due to Phase 2, this was rare chance to meet up with fellow humanists, get closer to nature and enjoy a hilltop view of the city.
It was stormy the day before and the morning of the hike didn’t look promising. Still, a few of us decided to meetup with contingency plans in mind. Luckily for us, the sky cleared and we proceeded with our hike in groups of 5 people according to prevailing health and safety guidelines of Phase 2.
The trail was beautiful and we can even see a few old colonial houses that were almost completely surrounded by lush jungle. It is amazing that such a green enclave can exist in the middle of the bustling city-centre of Singapore.
Farewell 2020
We bid farewell to 2020. We remember the heroes who have fallen, the mistakes made, the lessons learnt.
With Phase 3 in place now, the Society will be launching more events next year. Stay tuned.
Happy New Year.
