The last day of August ended on a memorable high with an event that left a lasting impression—the launch of The Birthday Book at Trehaus @ Funan. As 59 writers, myself included, shared our words and stories, we celebrated Singapore’s 59th birthday in 2024. The occasion was made even more impactful by the moving presentations from a few selected writers, who brought their stories to life on stage.
It was truly an honour to be among the 59 contributors, crafting a 350-word piece for this year’s theme, “Got A Minute?”, beautifully curated by editors Aaron Maniam and Cherie Tseng from The Birthday Collective.
My journey to this moment started when Vernie Oliveiro, a classmate I met during an online Creative Non-Fiction course at Lasalle College of the Arts, reached out to Aaron and Cherie after reading my work. As my stories, centred on my lived experiences as a deaf person, were critiqued in front of the class over Zoom by the professor, she found them insightful and felt my voice deserved to be part of this project. When she asked if I’d like to contribute, I immediately said, “Yes.”
Originally, I had signed up for that writing course to gain confidence in tackling the monumental task of my dissertation. But to my surprise, a creative door opened, leading me into this unexpected opportunity. Finding my voice as a writer through this platform has been an empowering experience, allowing me to challenge the misconceptions many hearing people have about deaf people's abilities.
What resonates most with me about The Birthday Collective is its mission—to amplify young voices and spark critical conversations that push boundaries and reimagine a more inclusive future. If you’re interested in exploring their inspiring work, visit their website to learn more.
I’ve recommended a few people to contribute to next year’s 10-year series of The Birthday Book. I hope they, too, will have the opportunity to share their narratives.
A heartfelt thank you to Clara Chee from Equal Dreams for being my sign language interpreter at the event!
And now, enjoy the incredible photos taken by Frank Foo, the professional photographer who captured the magic of The Birthday Book launch on Saturday, August 31st.
@frankfoophotography
And finally, here’s a glimpse of the 350-word piece I contributed to The Birthday Book. I hope you enjoy diving into it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Feel free to click on the photos to enlarge them for an easier read.
Photo credit: Phoebe Tay
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