AWARE is pleased to be collaborating with Singapore Dreaming to hold a charity gala screening of the movie on 30 August 2006.

28th August 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AWARE’s Sold-out Charity Film Gala of SINGAPORE DREAMING

The Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) is pleased to be collaborating with Singapore Dreaming to hold a charity gala screening of the movie on 30 August 2006.

The film portrays the experiences and challenges of a typical Singaporean family with all its nuances.  It is an apt film for an AWARE charity gala as many of the issues raised in the film have been championed by AWARE through the years.  Further, the main female characters are fully fleshed out, and are all strong in their own way.

President of AWARE, Tan Joo Hymn says, “In the film, there is obvious favouritism towards the boy in the family.  The sister becomes resentful and critical, while he has problems facing reality and shouldering responsibility.  This unequal treatment really does not benefit anybody and both siblings are less than what they could potentially have become.”

“AWARE has recently released a report on the plight of the older woman in Singapore – who is likely to outlive her husband, have insufficient savings and suffer from poor health. In Singapore Dreaming, this is portrayed by the ageing mother in the movie, who has spent her whole life looking after the family, putting the welfare of the family first and sacrificing her own dreams.  When her children grow up, she is increasingly disconnected from them due to language and values.  Her carefully home brewed “liang teh” (herbal tea) has no place in her children’s fast moving materialistic society” added Winifred Loh, Vice-President of AWARE.

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports will be the Guest of Honour for the gala.

All tickets to the event have been sold out. Said Corinna Lim, chairperson of the organising committee, “We were most heartened and pleasantly surprised by the generous and warm support from the public for both AWARE and for a Singapore made movie. In a short span of 3 weeks we were able to sell out 3 halls.”
 
The reception after the movie screening for invited guests would not be possible without the generosity of:
• Booze Wine Shop for sponsoring the wine selection.   They will also be taking orders for Spiegelau wine glasses where 40% of the sales proceeds will go to AWARE.
• Asia Pacific Breweries Limited for sponsorship of Tiger beer
• Royal Catering Services Private Limited for providing the buffet spread of food and soft drinks

In addition, AWARE is working with Singapore Dreaming and the donors of the “Keep Singapore Dreaming Programme” to give out 2000 free tickets to deserving groups such as nurses and social workers, and also, the underprivileged, such as certain clients of Family Services Centres. 

“We felt that we had wanted the beneficiaries to enjoy the movie with their families. For most of us, tickets for a family of 4 is not much, but to some others, $36 is a luxury they could not afford. AWARE worked with 3 Family Service Centres, to assist in the distribution of these tickets,” said AWARE President, Tan Joo Hymn.

The tickets were also extended to clients at various shelters to provide their residents with a brief respite from their burdens and worries.  The matron and counsellor at Star Shelter, an initiative of the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO), will be at the charity gala on 30 August.

About AWARE
AWARE's mission is to promote a society that provides optimal opportunities for women and men to realise their highest potential. AWARE believes that gender stereotypes and discrimination benefits neither women nor men, and that gender equity is a necessary component of healthy families and societies. Formed in 1985, AWARE is the leading women's advocacy group in Singapore. AWARE's strengths lie in identifying social issues that adversely affect women and families, and in researching the causes and possible solutions of these issues.

For those who are currently in need, AWARE's direct services help over 2500 women each year. AWARE also has an education arm that provides training on diverse issues such as self-esteem, sexuality, gender stereotypes and assertiveness. AWARE is supported by a large group of committed passionate volunteers.