Subscribe to the monthly socialservice.sg newsletter and check out the socialservice.sg podcast!

Click here to listen to the episode.

“What is something that brought you joy today?” That’s the question one is encouraged to contemplate as one explores the website of HappyUrns (https://happyurns.org/), an initiative to help different groups of Singaporeans engage meaningfully with death and end-of-life topics with their loved ones. With team members Amanda Swee and Adya Sadanand, we have a thoughtful conversation about their three projects – “Residents’ Urns”, the “Celebration Kit”; and the “Life in a Year Book” – and for each project you’ll hear powerful stories and reflections of their design experiences and interpersonal interactions. This episode is a great complement to an earlier episode with representatives of “Both Sides, Now”, who work to normalise end-of-life conversations through artistic projects and public engagement. 

HappyUrns is currently running a competition titled, “Reinterpreting the Urn: A Symbol of Celebration” (https://happyurns.org/a-happy-urns-competition/). Singaporeans of all ages and backgrounds are welcomed to create a design to give “new and personal meaning to the urn and transform it into a symbol that represents celebration and appreciation of life.”

This episode is part of “Making Research Sense” series of the podcast’s fifth season (https://socialservice.sg/podcast/). The feature photo is by Ng Shi Wen.

Click here to listen to the episode.