A Remarkable Event of Empowerment: Celebrating International Women's Day and the SWHF’s 10th Induction Ceremony

8 March 2024 – In a vibrant celebration of International Women’s Day, the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO) recently hosted an unforgettable event, combining the spirit of empowerment with the grandeur of the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame (SWHF)’s 10th Induction Ceremony. Held at The Fullerton Hotel, the event showcased the remarkable achievements of women while honouring their contributions to society.

SWHF’s 10th Induction Ceremony

We honoured 10 women into the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame:

Pioneering educational TV producer and newscaster Tan See Lai
Pioneering humour writer and the Grandmother of Singlish Sylvia Toh Paik Choo
Trailblazer in the Asian creative industry Linda Locke
Pioneering advocate of successful longevity Mary Ann Tsao
Outstanding educator, author, and poet Hadijah Rahmat
Champion of the environment Kirtida Mekani
Outstanding athlete and charity fund-raiser Grace Young-Diao
Outstanding mountaineers and endurance athletes Sim Phei Sunn and Vincere Zeng
Singapore’s Sprint Queen, Shanti Pereira

Outstanding mountaineers and endurance athlete Vincere Zeng

Outstanding mountaineers and endurance athlete Sim Phei Sunn

Outstanding athlete and charity fund-raiser Grace Young-Diao

Champion of the environment Kirtida Mekani

Outstanding educator, author, and poet Hadijah Rahmat

Pioneering humour writer and the Grandmother of Singlish Sylvia Toh Paik Choo

Singapore’s Sprint Queen, Shanti Pereira, represented by her mother, Bridget Jeet Pereira

Trailblazer in the Asian creative industry Linda Locke, represented by her son, Jackson Conner

Pioneering advocate of successful longevity Mary Ann Tsao

Pioneering educational TV producer and newscaster Tan See Lai, represented by her Grand-niece, Christina Chan

In her speech, SCWO President, Ms Junie Foo said, ““To close the gender gap, we have to recognise the structural or systemic reasons for the inequalities, and then to steadily remove these obstacles that can prevent women from leading the lives they want and realising their full potential. Much of this work lies in the hands of the policymakers. SCWO and its member organisations help by pointing to the obstacles and outlining the solutions we believe are needed,”.

“Changing policies is one part of the process; the other is changing mindsets. And this is where the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame has an important role to play. We are showing that women are as capable as men of amazing achievements and great contributions to society. We are particularly keen to get the stories of our Hall of Fame women to young children because the future is theirs to shape, and we want them to shape a society that is just and equal.”

Awesome Art Competition 2023 Prize Presentation

One of the highlights of the evening was the captivating exhibition display featuring the works of young, aspiring artists—the winners of the Inaugural Awesome Art Competition. These budding talents not only demonstrated their creativity but also inspired attendees with their unique perspectives and artistic flair.

The winners were presented with their prizes by the representative from key programme donor The Hour Glass, Ms. Amanda Chuan, for the Prize Presentation.

Corporate partner – The Hour Glass

In 2023 Singapore-based watch specialist retail group The Hour Glass made a three-year commitment of funding support for the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame and Project Awesome.

The $1.2 million that The Hour Glass is providing over the three years will enable SWHF to step up its Project Awesome programmes and expand the range of channels to reach young people and engage them with the stories of the Awesome women. These include an annual Awesome Art Competition and a metaverse game.

“We recognise the importance of recording the stories of Singapore’s outstanding women and celebrating their achievements with young people. We are delighted to be able to support Project Awesome as part of our desire to progress the lives of fellow Singaporeans,” said Dr Henry Tay, Executive Chairman of The Hour Glass.

Adding to the allure of the event was the unveiling of the brand-new Awesome notebook, adorned with beautiful artworks and featuring notable women from the Hall. The merchandise booth attracted attention, offering attendees the opportunity to take home a piece of inspiration while supporting the cause of women’s empowerment.

Guests-of-honour, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and SCWO Patron Ms. Jane Ittogi

Distinguished guests, including President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and SCWO Patron, Ms. Jane Ittogi, graced the occasion with their presence. Ms. Ittogi delivered a profoundly inspiring speech, emphasizing the importance of women’s development and advocating for Equal Space, Equal Voice, and Equal Worth. Her words resonated deeply, reminding everyone of the significance of creating a society where every individual—regardless of gender—has the opportunity to thrive.

Equality for Women

It’s crucial to recognise that equality for women isn’t about elevating women above men; rather, it’s about ensuring equal opportunities for all to reach their full potential.

As Ms. Foo aptly pointed out, it’s about creating a world where everyone can be the best versions of themselves, irrespective of gender.

In her speech, Ms Foo also spoke of the proposal SCWO submitted in 2021 to the Government that the contributions of women to the nation be recognised by naming roads or gardens and other places after some of Singapore’s most outstanding women.

SCWO said in the proposal: “This visible and physically permanent acknowledgement of women’s contributions would help to shift the societal mindset that men matter more than women, that it was just men who built and shaped Singapore, that women played and should continue to play a secondary role in society. Having roads and places named after our outstanding women would be a powerful reminder, especially to young Singaporeans, of the pioneering role that women played in many aspects of life in Singapore.”

Ms Foo said in her speech: “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.”

The event served as a powerful reminder of the progress made in the journey towards gender equality while acknowledging the work that still lies ahead. By celebrating the achievements of women and nurturing the talents of the next generation, SCWO continues to champion the cause of empowerment, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable future.

As the festivities drew to a close, attendees left with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to advancing the rights and opportunities of women everywhere. With events like these, SCWO reaffirms its dedication to creating a world where everyone—regardless of gender—can thrive and succeed.

In the spirit of International Women’s Day, let us all pledge to continue the march towards a more equitable and just society, where every voice is heard, and every individual is valued. Together, we can build a brighter future for generations to come.

Show your support by purchasing
these Awesome Books

All proceeds will support SCWO and SWHF, especially with the development of our educational resources for Project Awesome, where we bring the stories of these inspiring and awesome women to students across Singapore.