SCWO takes a Walk in Our Foremother’s Footsteps
Last month, the staff at SCWO put on our comfortable shoes and took the opportunity to explore our neighbourhood in the Bras Basah-Bugis heritage district through our own heritage walk. Despite the rainy season this time of year, the weather stayed clear that afternoon and allowed us to enjoy the outdoor walk.
SCWO Centre is one of the many buildings in the area associated with some of the pioneer women changemakers in Singapore. Through the walk, our staff learnt about not only the history of our organisation but also the stories of some of the honourees in the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame, including Shirin Fozdar, Checha Davies, Elizabeth Choy, Sophia Blackmore and more. Matching their names to some of the famous landmarks in the area was an enriching learning experience.
Some of the additional places included:
- Middle Road Church, a historic 19th-century church that was home to Methodist Girls’ School for a brief period, occupied by non-profit photography and film centre Objectifs today
- Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), located along Bencoolen Street and Middle Road
- National Museum of Singapore, located along Stamford Road
- Singapore Management University, with buildings located along Stamford Road, Victoria Street and Armenian Street
The heritage walk was led by May Hui, SWHF’s veteran volunteer tour guide with over 40 years of experience guiding tours, who shared a trove of information and lesser-known facts with us. With her engaging narration and enthusiasm for the history of Singapore, our team was able to appreciate further the efforts of Singapore women and their role in improving the lives of future generations to follow.
Interested to learn more about the women in the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame and explore the area with a newfound perspective? Drop an email at swhf@scwo.org.sg to organise a group walk.
