When Singapore’s Gen Z volunteers say ‘anything but ageing’, we have a problem
The silver tsunami, or super-aged, framing was meant to prepare us. Instead, it’s making the young dread it and the old feel like a burden.
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There is a creeping sense of compassion fatigue among youth amid the stereotyping of seniors as a burden, says the writer.
ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Whitney Zhang
My 15-year-old daughter spearheaded a Values in Action (VIA) school project last year, co-developing a smart cane equipped with sensors to help the elderly navigate Singapore’s busy walkways. It was a project defined by technical grit and social empathy.
But this year, when it came to selecting a theme for a national innovation competition, her stance was: “Anything but ageing.”
