Chit Chat Cafe is a “pop-up café” run by trained volunteers for persons with aphasia (PWAs) and their caregivers. It simulates a real café where PWAs and caregivers can meet and interact on a regular basis. Chit Chat Cafe is a safe space for PWAs to practise talking in groups while their caregivers have their own concurrent support group conversations facilitated by speech therapists and social worker volunteers. The programme aims to strengthen the support network of people living with aphasia in Singapore. With Chit Chat Cafe, PWAs and caregivers understand that they are not alone. By alleviating their sense of social isolation and empowering PWAs to be more confident to speak up in groups, we are making a difference to the lives of aphasia sufferers and their caregivers in Singapore.

It costs S$10,000 to run bi-monthly Chit Chat Cafe sessions for a year. Funds to cover expenses including rental of venue, F&B, printing & production cost (for resources, materials), transportation and logistics.

Our beneficiaries are persons with aphasia (PWAs) and their caregivers/ families. Chit Chat Cafe is expected to accommodate up to 100 attendees per session.

What is aphasia?
Aphasia is a communication impairment that affects individuals after a brain injury such as stroke, head trauma, brain tumour, brain infection or progressive neurological conditions. Persons with aphasia (PWAs) suffer from difficulties in speaking, understanding language, reading, and writing which has great impact on their daily activities and reintegration to society. Many PWAs suffer from social isolation which results in psychological anxieties and depression. Research has shown that PWAs are 93% more likely than stroke survivors without aphasia to suffer from depression. Millions of people around the world suffer from aphasia; it is estimated that more than 3,000 adults are newly diagnosed with aphasia in Singapore every year. Aphasia can happen to anyone regardless of age, gender, race, or profession. A high-profile individual who has had to give up his life’s work because of aphasia is Hollywood actor, Bruce Willis. Aphasia is a debilitating condition that affects all aspects of a sufferer’s life and has a profound impact on their loved ones.

About Aphasia SG

Aphasia SG is the only non-profit organization that supports persons with aphasia (PWAs) and their caregivers in Singapore. It was formally registered as a CLG in May 2019 (Reg. No. 201915120R) and is run by a core team of speech therapist volunteers. Aphasia SG organises free and regular community programmes for PWAs and caregivers, to create safe spaces for them to practise their communication skills as well as opportunities for peer support. Our mission is to empower PWAs to lead meaningful lives while advocating for an inclusive, aphasia-friendly Singapore. Aphasia SG programmes include Chit Chat Café, Aphasia SG Choir, Aphasia Games/Craft Night and training workshops. All programmes are currently conducted online via Zoom due to the Covid pandemic. We have conducted about 250 online activities for our beneficiaries as well as members of the public since March 2020.

Contact: aphasiasg@gmail.com

Aphasia SG
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