Important: We are postponing this workshop until further notice, for the safety of attendees and our senior workshop leaders. Apologies for the inconvenience! We will be in touch with the rescheduled date when possible.

Do you have something to say about the news stories you read in the papers? Are you bothered by issues of injustice or inequality?

Writing letters to the newspapers is one way that engaged members of the public can express their views in Singapore. But persuasive letter-writing is a subtle art. How can your words enter the national discourse effectively – that is, with conviction, responsibility and eloquence?

Join Dana Lam and Margaret Thomas, two long-time writers and women’s rights activists, as they analyse their own epistolary triumphs and share strategies for getting ideas across effectively, succinctly and powerfully. Dana, a former president of AWARE, and Margie, the current president of AWARE, have written prolifically to the press, government agencies and others, raising awareness about issues of gender, inequality, violence and more, and moving the needle towards progress.

This is a rare chance to learn from two leading lights in Singaporean civil society.

Programme Overview:

11:00 – Introduction and presentation – why write letters?

• Letter-writing as one component in the activist’s tool bag
• The AWARE experience – letters in advocacy, such as the “Stop Violence Against Women” campaign
• Structure, tone and word count

11:45 -Responses and break

12:05 – Analysis of sample letters: content, tone, structure, purpose

12:40 – Write now: participants work on letters collaboratively/individually

13:15 – Let’s hear it: presentation and discussion of participants’ letters

Details:

Date: Saturday, 21 March 2020

Time: 11am – 2pm

Venue: AWARE Centre (5 Dover Crescent, #01-22, Singapore 130005)

Workshop fee: $10. Food and materials will be provided. Remaining proceeds will go to AWARE’s programmes and services.

Note: Participants are invited to bring along other letters they have written or that strike them as interesting, for discussion.