Death is a taboo topic in Singapore. Changing the way our society views death and dying will play a part in advancing understanding and acceptance of palliative care as a way to “add life to days, whether or not days can be added to life”. But if we do not even talk about death, how can we understand the wishes of our loved ones as they approach the end of life? A group of medical students decided that getting people to doodle on chalk boards was a way to start the conversation, and BID@Sg was born.
In conjunction with Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Film & Media Studies, BID@Sg brings to you the following video, about the Singaporean public and hospice patients’ thoughts and wishes.
What is the “Before I Die” movement?
The ‘Before I Die’ Board (BID Board) is a global art project that invites people to reflect on their lives and share their personal aspirations in public spaces (Before-I-Die Official Website: http://beforeidie.cc/site/). Everyone will eventually pass away someday: But what’s important is what we do with the time that is given to us. We believe that when people place life in perspective of death, they will live it better, and treasure what is truly important to them. To this end, Project Happy Apples, in partnership with the Singapore Hospice Council and NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, wishes to bring the BID Board to Singapore on a large scale, in order to engage Singaporeans of all walks of life to actively think about, and discuss the subject of death with their loved ones. In doing so, we hope to help members of the public place life into perspective and prompt Singaporeans to treasure what is most important to them in their lives. At the same time, the project will display publicity posters and links to raise awareness for palliative care medicine in Singapore.
Find out more about the project in Singapore at their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/beforeidieboardsg?fref=ts