Ms Lim Soo Hoon, Chairman, National Library Board

Mr. Gerard Ee, Chairman, Council for 3^rd Age

Dr N Varaprasad, Chief Executive, National Library Board

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen

1         Good morning. It gives me great pleasure this morning to launch the ‘To My Grandpa/Grandma’ books, a collection of expressions from grandchildren to their grandparents.  I am delighted to see that amongst the guests present today, we have some three-generation families here to show their support for this meaningful project.

CHANGING LIFESTYLES IN A FAST-PACED WORLD

2          For some of us, our grandparents, or perhaps great-grandparents, who were early immigrants to Singapore, originated from communities where it was common for generations to live together under one roof.

3          Today, we live in a vastly different world. Our social norms have changed.   Medical progress have resulted in longer life expectancies and yet financial independence and the pressures of work mean we spend less time together compared to the past.  As a result, there are new social issues for us to grapple with. A generation ago, or 20 years back, when people stopped working at age 55, it usually meant slowing down and staying at home to help bring up the grandchildren. These days, retirement sees many seniors travelling, learning new skills, and actively participating in newly-discovered activities.

MAINTAINING CLOSELY-KNITTED TIES

4          With an aging population, where our society now has smaller family units instead of extended families living together, it is important for us to maintain close family ties. When crisis strikes or when we are faced with challenges such as with the current economic downturn, the support of a closely-knit family can make a world of difference.

5          Strong family ties are the cornerstone of social cohesion. Strong family ties bind families together and families shape individuals – their character, their instincts, their values.  Strong families help build a connected community which is integral in nation building. In some of the published letters in ‘To My Grandpa/Grandma’, it is touching to read about what the grandchildren have written to their grandparents. What is really striking is the sense of closeness to a loving elder that was conveyed in almost all the letters. Indeed, nothing can quite replace the experience of being cared for by nurturing grandparents who are ever willing to share their life experiences and discipline with love and wisdom. These experiences give our children a sense of rootedness, and teach them the virtue of showing love and respect for the elderly in a way that cannot be found in any textbooks.

MAKING AN EFFORT TO CONNECT

6          Close inter-generational ties do not happen overnight. All of us need to make efforts to nurture relationships. Of course, there are differences between the generations that we often refer to as ‘generation gap’. But they are not insurmountable.

7          I would like to suggest to all grandparents and grandchildren – learn from each other and laugh with one another. To the grandparents, let’s be curious about what our grandchildren are doing. Keep an open mind and seek to understand the interests and passion of the younger generation.

8          As for the grandchildren, be curious about how your grandparents attained what they have achieved today. How did your grandparents meet? Do they have old photos? What are the memorable incidents in their lives? How did they bring your parents up? Take some time to learn about the lives of your grandparents. Make an effort to communicate with them. It may be awkward at first, but the rewards will be worth it.  

9          The ‘To My Grandpa/Grandma’ project is a demonstration of how both the young and seniors can make the difference to overcome the ‘generation gap’ and develop closer inter-generational ties. In the letters that have been published, the grandchildren have shown us how much inter-generational ties matter to them and how it has affected them positively.

10        It is especially significant that we are holding this event today at the National Library Building. Libraries play an important role in the community, by offering a common space and opportunities to bond diverse communities. Libraries are a beacon of lifelong learning, and it is heartening that we have a mix of grandchildren and their grandparents with us today, as we together celebrate inter-generational bonding.

11        I would like to commend NLB for embarking on this meaningful project. I would also like to encourage all the grandchildren who have contributed to this project to continue to share with others how your grandparents have made a difference in your lives and to inspire others to also make an effort to connect with their grandparents too.

12        Thank you and I wish everyone an enjoyable day ahead!