In honour of International Women’s Day, the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame (SWHF) inducted ten outstanding women who had made significant contributions to Singaporean society. Athletics, education, ecology, and the creative industries are just a few of the many varied domains represented among this year’s honorees.
Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame Inductees for 2024
- After an incredible career on the tracks, Singapore’s sprint queen and national hero, Shanti Pereira, has joined the Hall of Fame.
- Tan See Lai made an indelible mark on Singaporean media as an innovative educational TV producer and newsreader.
- Paik Choo Sylvia Toh: The renowned humour writer Sylvia Toh Paik Choo is a beloved figure in Singapore, revered as the “Grandmother of Singlish” for her advocacy of the country’s distinctive language.
- Linda Locke: Linda Locke was an innovator in the Asian creative sector, and her work opened doors for others.
- Mary Ann Tsao is an inspiration for happy, healthy ageing; she is a pioneer in the field of effective longevity.
- The writings of Hadijah Rahmat, a remarkable poet, novelist, and educator, motivate and uplift those around her.
- Kirtida Mekani: As an outspoken supporter of conservation and sustainability, Kirtida Mekani is a staunch environmentalist.
- Bowling is only one arena in which the famous athlete and philanthropist Grace Young-Diao has shown her unwavering commitment.
- Outstanding mountaineers Sim Phei Sunn and Vincere Zeng became the first women from Singapore to reach the summits of Everest and K2.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and his spouse, Ms Jane Ittogi, patron of the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO), were present during the induction ceremony at the Fullerton Hotel. “The Flame,” a glass trophy representing the Hall of Fame’s eternal spirit and the inspiration passed down through the years, was presented to each inductee or their representative.
Creating Opportunities for the Future: Project Awesome
In 2014, the SCWO developed the Hall of Fame as a means to honour previous accomplishments and motivate present and future generations. Crucial to this objective is Project Awesome, the educational outreach programme run by the Hall of Fame. With its debut in 2021, Project Awesome brings the tales of these extraordinary women to life through the distribution of the book “Awesome Women of Singapore” to schools, as well as through the organisation of workshops, speeches, and exhibitions.
Singaporean watchmaker The Hour Glass has become a corporate partner with two Singaporean institutions: the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame and Project Awesome. The company has just committed $1.2 million over three years to finance these two organisations. Thanks to this substantial gift, the Hall of Fame will be able to reach more youth through its outreach programmes.
The significance of preserving the narratives of Singapore’s remarkable women and honouring their accomplishments with the next generation is acknowledged. According to Dr. Henry Tay, Executive Chairman of The Hour Glass, “We hope more Singapore companies will see the importance of supporting SCWO and our member organisations in our efforts to close the gender gap. Singapore’s greatest resource is its people, and we need every individual to be able to explore and achieve their fullest potential. Many companies are already looking seriously at DEI – diversity, equity, inclusion. We would welcome the opportunity to work with them on these issues.”
Looking Ahead to a Fairer Future
The necessity to persistently tackle gender inequity was stressed by SCWO President Junie Foo. The significance of removing systemic obstacles and shifting perspectives was stressed while she acknowledged achievements. An important initiative in this regard is Project Awesome, which seeks to inform Singaporean youth about the great things that Singaporean women have accomplished.
The SCWO has also advocated for the renaming of roads and parks in Singapore to honour the achievements of notable women in order to acknowledge the value women have contributed to society.
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“We proposed that an initial 10 roads or places be named after women, with more to be considered later, and we identified the 10 women in the Hall of Fame that we think should be the first to be honoured and remembered in this way. That our heroes in the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame be commemorated this way is more than just our dream. It is our firm belief that this is an important step for us to take as a nation if we are to achieve gender equality. We need to do more, a lot more, to show that women and men are equal, that as a society we are truly committed to Equal Space, Equal Voice, Equal Worth, ” Ms. Foo said.
As a monument to the extraordinary accomplishments of Singaporean women, the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame rises tall. In recognising these accomplishments and serving as an inspiration to subsequent generations, the Hall of Fame significantly contributes to the advancement of a fairer and more inclusive society.
