Birthday – Celebration of Life! Pre-COVID-19 days, 365CPS members celebrated their birthdays at our Social Service Centres (SSCs), on a monthly basis. When pandemic hits, with the various precautions in place, this activity was suspended for close to 1.5 years.
Recently, with over 80% of our population fully vaccinated, the restrictions are lifted, hence Birthday Celebrations are back! In March, we started the birthday celebrations again, rotating over our three SSCs located in Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Panjang and Clementi. It is heartening to see our members physically and sharing with us this special occasion of their lives despite the many challenges they face.
During the birthday celebrations, some icebreaking games will be shared so as to rally seasoned and new members to get to know each other. A further sense of familiarity can be fostered among the members with our Care Leaders and Programme Executives at the various SSCs. Games like Bingo, Musical Play and other group-based games often bring each other closer where all can join in the fun and each members’ laughter is ever so infectious. The celebrations often peak with sharing of a big healthy cake, songs, well wishes and more laughers as we celebrate another milestone in this ‘new’ world – co-existing with COVID-19. The camaraderie and human spirit never cease to amaze us in that there is so much more we can do when we are together as a group. The affirmation and accolades that our members share with us is so precious that we are indeed heading in the right direction when it comes to serving with a heart by curating programmes and services with the best interest of our members in mind.
I recall one of our members sharing with that she is overwhelmed with joy and gratitude that we have such a programme as some of them lived on their own and it has been so long since anyone celebrated their birthdays with them! For most of us, we celebrate our birthdays with our families and loved ones but we often forget that there are others living in isolation with no one to celebrate with.
On behalf of the 365CPS Care Leaders’ team, we would like to wish everyone continued good health and do join us some time when it is your birthday!
Be well and choose happiness always!
