It's common for birthdays to be a day all about yourself. I mean, no shame, after all it's the day when everyone gathers to celebrate you. But what if there's better way to mark the occasion? What if a birthday could go beyond the traditional and actually make a difference? That's exactly what Preeti Nair (previous Esquire SG’s Women We Love and Singapore’s TOP Everything) has planned as she steps into a new chapter of her life. To celebrate her big day, she will be throwing a party with a purpose—one where all profits will go to Love Aid Singapore, a non-profit organisation providing essential aid to people in Palestine.
She's calling it her 'Dirty 30 Swamp' birthday party, a fun Shrek-themed birthday where guests are encouraged to dress in their most 'swampy' and delightfully ugly outfits. There will be vibey tunes and exciting acts by @shakthiyas, @lycheebye69, and @candiceteosh. It promises to be a night filled with laughter, love and doing good. The first 100 guests will even receive special 'swamp goodies', making it an occasion that you don't want to miss.
Come celebrate Preeti’s birthday, one that truly does good. For those who can't attend tonight’s shindig but still wish to support the cause, donations can be made via PayNow to 87745281.
To get your tickets, visit preetidirty30.peatix.com
My childhood and youth were very isolating. I read a lot as a kid to escape depression and isolation. I became a lone ranger.
I came from a background of poverty. From a young age, you know—like seven or eight years old to my teens—I was actually fostered. I didn't get to see my parents for quite a long period. There's this sense of not belonging. Like you don't feel loved.
I have a strong attachment to the unfortunate and the displaced. So when I see the refugees in the Middle East, I actually feel for them because I came from the same background of displacement.
We’re doing a few things. We have a food kitchen cooking in Jabalia, north Gaza. We also periodically bring in 20 trucks carrying 20,000 food parcels into Rafah and Gaza.
It’s a complex operation, I tell you. Drivers are hesitant, you know. Workers inside Gaza are getting killed, some of whom I've worked closely with.
[My parents] taught me that we should spend more time with family: work less and spend more time with our kids.
But I'm not a good dad, a lousy dad. I'm missing quite a lot. So now, I try to catch time for my daughter. I'm flying off to visit her in Sydney for two weeks because it's her birthday. Every 10th of July, I’d fly over to spend time with her.
When I was in secondary school, I was the rebellious type (laughing). I tended to be the one in class who raised issues by speaking my mind. I always questioned why we should do this or that?
So, when my form teacher chose me to be the prefect, I said, "What? Are you sure or not?"
As an activist, you are more prone to humanity. Activism is about speaking up for the unfortunate, like the Palestinians, for the people in Gaza.
When we were around 20 or 21 years old, we had a classmate who was going through depression. There was a lot of mockery and stares at him. We helped him for a bit while he was in and out of jobs. Until one day, he got admitted to IMH (Institute of Mental Health) and when he was released, he hanged himself. That woke me up a lot.
If I had a superpower, I wish I could, with a snap of my fingers, stop the war in Gaza. It’s a war that needs to end soon. It’s been eight months, and people are dying every day.
We have collected about SGD3 million in donations. We gave out about a million dollars to an NGO delivering food into Gaza. So now we have two million left to push forward to the end of the year.
When I was in Lebanon, I often travelled in private vans because it was the cheapest mode of transport. Once, at midnight, I was detained by the Lebanese army. It was a frightening hour of interrogation that made me very uncomfortable.
If you want to embark on the humanitarian pathway, it’s good to start locally, or even in Batam, Indonesia, or Thailand, before you venture further.
My biggest break in humanitarian work is for the Palestinians in Gaza. I didn't anticipate it. I didn't prepare for it.
I could’ve said no, I don’t want to come (to Cairo). I nearly said I don’t want to come because it’s difficult and troublesome. You’re not sure how things will turn out.
But I said, okay, the usual one or two months in the Middle East, then I’ll go back to Singapore, relax, and enjoy life. But this is my seventh month in Cairo, and I’m planning to stay till the end of the year.
I lost many friends over this issue [Israel-Palestine war]. A lot of them think it's only a Muslim problem.
We tend to follow the crowd in Singapore. I want to be remembered as someone who did things his way. I hope my legacy will inspire people to think outside the box, to not follow the crowd. If you think something is right, go for it.
I feel very proud when I raise my flag. I feel that this is what Singapore needs right now, for people to go against the grain, to do something worthy for the country.
The easiest part of providing humanitarian aid is donating money. You press a few buttons and you do your part for humanity. I’m not saying it's not important but, I think, doing that is easy. The hardest part is taking action. Coming to Cairo, going to workshops, attending activism courses. I think that’s difficult in Singapore, at least.
Often, that first step is difficult. But if you can extend your horizon or scope by joining an NGO, then you can get yourself started.
You can donate to Love Aid Singapore via Gilbert's preferred channel, PayNow: 87745281
As Angela Davis aptly puts it, “Palestine is a moral litmus test for the world”. The ongoing suffering of the Palestinians has become a dark stain on the global conscience. As Singaporeans, it's all too easy to feel disconnected and powerless regarding global conflicts, especially those unfolding thousands of kilometres away. Our country is small, and we may feel even smaller as a result. But true power lies in the masses, it always has, and we cannot turn a blind eye to the plight of the oppressed.
Spearheading humanitarian efforts for Singaporeans is Gilbert Goh, the founder of Love Aid SG. Goh has helped raise over a million dollars for various Gaza-related projects. His initiatives include building a Gazan kitchen, which an Israeli airstrike later destroyed and killed nine people he worked closely with. He then constructed solar panels to generate electricity for Kamal Adwan Hospital, but another airstrike decimated that as well. While these setbacks are terrible, they have only strengthened Goh’s resolve to assist Palestinians. He currently remains in Cairo to continue the facilitation of aid into Gaza.
To rally solidarity, Collective Minds is partnering with Mandala Club to organise a music event called Dance for Life. It aims to raise SGD10,000 to support Love Aid SG’s humanitarian efforts in Gaza. With the entire population of Gaza projected to face famine by July, we have an opportunity and moral obligation as citizens of a privileged nation to help prevent that.
Dance for Life will feature an electrifying lineup of local artists and DJs, including Aurora, Bongomann, and Chris. Other artists include Dean Chew, Toppings, James Selva, Jenn Chunes, Kylie Nicole, and Leland. Also performing are Miss Lil, MZA, Puddle, Sivanesh, and RAAJ.
Tickets are priced at SGD40 and is inclusive of a complimentary drink. For those unable to attend in person, a SGD30 donation option is available. All proceeds from ticket sales, donations, and a percentage of the bar sales will be channelled straight to Love Aid SG.
Dance for Life will take place on 15 June 2024 at the Mandala Club from 12 pm to 11 pm. Buy your tickets or donate here.
