The Launch of the First Age Well Everyday (AWE) Club in Clementi Meadows
On 27 July 2024, the Yeo Boon Khim Mind Science Centre (YBK MSC), in collaboration with the Clementi Meadows Residents’ Network, unveiled the first Age Well Everyday (AWE) Club at THE COURT @ Clementi Meadows.
The AWE Club was launched by local Grassroot advisor, Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of National Development and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms Sim Ann. The collaboration marked a crucial step in fostering active ageing and mental resilience within the community, initiated by SMS Sim Ann and YBK MSC Centre Director Associate Professor John Wong.
The AWE Club will be housed within the newly renovated 2,300 square meter THE COURT community hall at Blk 306 Clementi Avenue 4. This innovative programme offers a comprehensive suite of cognitive and physical activities to promote mental well-being and active ageing.
Integrating contemplative activities such as Mindful Awareness Practice, therapeutic forest walk, art therapy, and music reminiscence into its core, the AWE club aims to equip participants with essential tools to enhance mental clarity, reduce stress, and improve overall quality of life.
Beyond individuals, the AWE Club aims to improve the well-being of the community as a whole. The Club will foster volunteer leadership by providing training to establish a base of Age Well Ambassadors and leaders who will spearhead club activities and support fellow residents. Additionally, the program will place emphasise on intergenerational engagement, pairing youth with seniors, promoting a two-way mentorship, to build mental resilience and cultivate a culture of mutual respect.
In her opening speech on 27 July, Senior Minister Sim Ann shared, “We are very happy that the Yeo Boon Khim Mind Science Centre is siting their Age Well Everyday (AWE) Club here (at Clementi Meadows). The Club is based on providing very interesting and engaging activities for our seniors and this can help them keep their minds very active and also get them to know more of their neighbours.”
To mark the launch of the AWE Club, SMS Sim presented a plaque to YBK MSC Chairman Mr Abdullah Tarmugi and Board Member Emeritus Professor Kua Ee Heok.
The AWE Club was previously known as the Dementia Prevention Programme (DPP) and subsequently the Age Well Everyday (AWE) Programme. The activities the Club offers are based on the 10-year longitudinal Jurong Ageing Study which was led by Emeritus Professor Kua Ee Heok, Associate Professor Goh Lee Gan, Dr Rathi Mahendran, and a team of researchers at NUS and NUHS. The project was made possible thanks to support from numerous philanthropists including Mr and Mrs Wee Sin Tho, and the late Mrs Teo Poh Yim.
Yeo Boon Khim Mind Science Centre Outreach Director and Gerontologist Mr Surein Sandrasageran expressed his enthusiasm for the launch, highlighting the program’s potential to create a positive impact on the community. “This programme offers more than just weekly activities; it provides access to a wide range of resources from the Mind Science Centre, including Dementia Asia webinars, MindGym training programmes, and curated visits at MAELab.”
He further added, “Community is key, and we all have a part to play when it comes to ageing well as a nation. We plan to scale up the AWE Club concept across Singapore, translating our research into actionable community programmes, and ensuring that our initiatives deliver tangible benefits to the community.”
Following the launch ceremony, YBK MSC Master Trainer Mr Shaun Low led participants on a cognitive-physical exercise, a small snippet of what the AWE Club sessions would be like. Participants played a cognitive game called “Bunny Gun” where they had to continuously switch their hand positions while doing a variation of different leg movements that were meant to strengthen certain muscle groups.
Activities in the AWE Club are designed to engage both the mind and body, allowing participants to remain active, and in the long run, delay the onset of dementia.
The Club will collaborate with local Active Ageing Centres (AACs), Community Centres, Regional Health Systems, and nearby schools to create a comprehensive support network for participants.
With the successful launch of the AWE Club at Clementi Meadows, the Yeo Boon Khim Mind Science Centre aims to expand this initiative to other communities across Singapore, translating research into actionable programs and making a tangible difference in the lives of seniors.
Sessions run every Friday 1.30pm – 2.30pm at THE COURT @ Clementi Meadows. Head down to join us! Open for all, no registration required.