One Sneak Peek Into Meals That Connect

Interview with Eleanor Yap, founder of ground-up Makan with Seniors

August 15, 2024

Photo provided by Eleanor

How much do you really know about the pioneer generation in Singapore?

If you do not live or interact with your grandparents often, you probably would say, “Not much!”

Back in secondary school, we had to volunteer at an eldercare centre. Many of my peers did not really know how to interact with the seniors there.

I realised then that many of us also held opinions about older people that were not the most positive.

Some stereotypes of our local seniors include: Not knowing how to speak English, very close-minded, unwilling to converse and understand the younger generations.

However, I am proud to share that among all of the seniors I have met, none of them fit the above description.

“But, Kaylee, how on earth do you know so many members of the older generation?”

Through a Makan with Seniors event of course!

Run by the one and only Eleanor Yap, journalist with over 30 years of experience in both Singapore and the United States, Makan with Seniors is an event where seniors and youths get to share delicious food, converse with each other and make new friends!

Best of all, Makan with Seniors events are free for entry!

(Pssst…Remember to bring a portion of your favourite food to share though)

1. Venturing into the Senior Space

“It started 24 years ago, when I was asked to run a magazine for seniors. When the magazine was killed, I  considered buying it over but the owners did not want to sell it.

In 2006, someone I was introduced to wanted to start a women’s magazine. I knew all along that if I wanted to start something, it would have to be a magazine for seniors. Both older females and males.

And them, I started a publishing company with her.  But at the time, people didn’t understand the the impacts of having an aging population. At the time, youths were still very important.

Soon, however, the Prime Minister came on TV and talked about aging population.

Many people contacted me then and told me I was very smart (to have anticipated this trend)!

It was sad then that I had to leave the venture after two and a half years. “

2. The Making of Makan with Seniors

“In 2009, I started Ageless Online, a free e-magazine. I wanted to come back to my roots and do something with seniors, and do it online as well. I felt that there were a lot of unnecessary stereotypes about seniors.

This project, by the way, is entirely out of my own income. When I first started it, I had some funding from the ex-transport minister’s father who was involved in a senior organisation.

In 2018, I was told by someone about Oxford historian Theodore Zeldin’s work, where he started an initiative called “Feast with Strangers”.

Since I was already advocating for seniors, I took the idea and turned it into something related back to seniors (of course) and added the food element, since it is reminiscent of Singapore and Singaporeans.

I thought I could perhaps change the perspectives of seniors and youths about each other. And perhaps, when they are done, they will step out of the room with more empathy for each other and have new friends.

I also hope that some of these seniors will feel less lonely after attending our events. We tend to lose friends when we get older.”

3. Redefining Success

“Success to me is about touching just one person, which I think I definitely have done.

Three youths from Dunman High School once sent me a proposal - they had planned for their own Makan with Seniors to be held at their school. And they did it.

Makan is great because it is so replicable and can be started by any volunteer, and you get to know your own community better if you do something like this.

A senior who came was so inspired that he went on to start a Senior Makan with Seniors event after.

I believe in this: If you want to change the way we age, we all have to play a part. If you don’t want to start an initiative like I have done, there is still so much that you can do - be kind to all around you, volunteer or donate to causes you care about, and of course, be a participant of Makan with Seniors. We hold it every other month at the National Museum of Singapore.”

Makan with Seniors’ socials:

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And that is all for today’s One Sneak Peek Into.

Stay tuned for more insights from our interview series as we continue to explore the stories of trailblazers breaking barriers and redefining success.