Staying home babysitting grandchildren should not be the only option available to our seniors. After raising their children and retiring from their professions, a group of seniors has chosen to return to the passions of their youth, volunteering and living out a retirement of their choosing.

They are rediscovering the joys of sewing with CDAC’s Granny Quilt Project; more importantly, while expressing their creativity through sewing and quilting, the patchwork quilts they make are bringing warmth and goodwill to vulnerable families with young children.

66-year-old Madam Neo Ah Tiaw’s dexterity shows her experience working in a garment factory in her youth. Together with Madam Wan Seow Har, 74, who is just as skillful, each has made at least a hundred quilts over the past four years. They are still learning from each other and have built up a close friendship with the other 20 over granny volunteers. Although the group has not been able to meet up because of the pandemic, they have stayed in touch through their group chat.

Madam Wan Seow Har is a model for active ageing, living life to the fullest before the pandemic. When she is not taking the elderly out on excursions with the Lions Befrienders, she would be helping with her church’s team of volunteers. “I’m fully occupied five days a week!” she exclaimed cheerfully.

Madam Florence Aw, 68, whose interest in sewing in her youth was sidelined by work, enjoys having the opportunity to learn from the experienced seamstresses in the sewing classes. In addition to sewing, Madam Aw is also learning cooking and gardening, she said, “After a lifetime of hard work, I can finally do the things I enjoy now.”