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Inspired by a seminar “Women’s Choices, Women’s Lives” in 1984 where a panel of women spoke to an audience of about 50 people, a few good women got together and started AWARE.
Thanks to a solid, consistent pursuit of AWARE’s aims, and to the unswerving dedication of its members, the association has grown into an organization that plays a vital social role in Singapore, and one that is recognised from Grassroots up to Government levels, as well as being a sounding board for the media on a wide range of issues.
Within six years, AWARE had permanent premises at Race Course Road, a full-time staff and an operational Helpline. In 1992, founding member and past president Dr Kanwaljit Soin was appointed a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP), the first woman to do so, in recognition of the importance of AWARE’s work. Since then, the AWARE Centre has moved to its present location at Dover Crescent, and three other AWARE members had become NMPs, namely Claire Chiang, Jennifer Lee and Braema Mathi. As AWARE turned 20, staff strength increased to five full-time and one part-time, with staff taking on more responsibilities for the running of projects, thus facilitating the achievement of AWARE’s mission and vision.
AWARE is a fully registered Association, affiliated to both the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO) and the National Council of Social Services (NCSS). AWARE’s activities are overseen by the main decision-making body, the Executive Committee (EXCO), which comprises twelve members, six of whom are office bearers. The Centre houses the Library and Resource centre; a total of more than 2000 books, plus a number of periodicals, conference papers and newspaper cuttings covering major women issues are catalogued and available for use by members. The Centre is also the scene of various activities.
The feminist ideological stance of the organization notwithstanding, AWARE’s activities are primarily practical, looking towards taking positive steps to redressing an imbalance between the sexes, and thus creating a healthier society as a whole. To this end, the association focuses on three main areas of activity:
Direct Services – including the Helpline, face to face counseling, Befrienders and legal clinic – services aimed at reaching out to women in need;
Research and Publications – work designed to create a credible, intellectual body of feminist literature, and
Public Education – programmes seeking to raise consciousness of gender issues.
A full and impressive public profile; an active voice in Parliament; a series of highly successful projects and programmes – this all pays tribute to the success of the Association. Underlying all AWARE’s activities is a deep conviction that women are an integral part of society and that if society is to progress, women cannot be left behind. Aware believes that gains made by women – are not gains made at the expense of men. But rather they are gains which benefit society as a whole.
Aware further believes in working hand-in-hand with other women’s groups in Singapore and in the wider world community. |
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