Ai Geok’s journey into the world of traditional Chinese knotting started over 30 years ago, when a book on the craft caught her interest. Since then, she has dedicated herself to sharing her skills with those who are similarly captivated by the art like she was.
As a long-term facilitator of handicraft activities at SunDac—a special needs adult day care centre—Ai Geok recognised Chinese knotting as an activity that many of the seniors there were interested in. Inspired by this, she began offering Chinese knotting workshops at senior activity centers (SACs) across Singapore. In 2018, she used the SkillsFuture Festival fund to organise these workshops at centers like THK, AWWA, and FSC, reaching many eager seniors. Recently, she also conducted a Chinese Knots workshop at Sunlove Depot Heights Active Ageing Centre, supporting NICA’s initiative to encourage its members to engage with seniors in Active Ageing Centres.
For seniors, Ai Geok’s workshops offer far more than a creative outlet—they also provide anticipation and excitement, as it is an activity that many of them look forward to. As a result, her workshops quickly became a point of focus in many of these seniors’ lives.
Traditional Knotting, according to Ai Geok, has the unique appeal of being a challenging, yet rewarding activity. It encompasses hand-eye coordination and logical reasoning, as you need to translate instructions into action. To many seniors, the fact that you end up with a product you can bring home is also a plus, as they look forward to showing their friends and family what they have made.
Her workshops bring joy and positivity to many seniors. One participant, a woman in her 70s, enjoyed herself so much that after completing her workshop project, she began making crafts for her centre’s fundraising events. “It’s about more than just the craft," Ai Geok explains. “It’s about giving them the confidence that they can still contribute.”
With an understanding of the physical limitations seniors have, Ai Geok takes extra care in planning her workshops. She recommends simpler knot designs, uses thicker ropes, and buffers for extra time during activities to make sure that everyone has ample time to finish what they are doing. She also makes it a point to pay more attention to those who may have more severe motor limitations, such as stroke survivors or patients with dementia.
One of the biggest hurdles Ai Geok faces is the public misconception around the complexity of her Chinese knots. Many learners underestimate the time needed to create the intricate designs that they pick; and the proliferation of cheap, mass-produced products from China has devalued the knots in the eyes of many people.
Another issue is the public perception of ageing. “Ageing means reduced abilities, and that is a fact. But it does not mean seniors are useless and incapable of contributing to the family and society,” says Ai Geok. “As we age, we need to understand what we are no longer capable of, and gracefully embrace what we can still do.”
For Ai Geok, her workshops aren’t just about teaching a craft—they’re about giving seniors an outlet to express themselves, helping them connect with their community, and showing them that creativity has no age limit.
NICA is looking to work with more experienced and passionate instructors like Ai Geok. With our roadmap of courses designed to equip instructors with the necessary skills and facilities, we help instructors conduct quality and safe programmes for seniors in Active Ageing Centres. Our hope is to inspire more success stories like Ai Geok’s, so that we can make a larger positive impact on the lives of our seniors. If you are an instructor interested in working with seniors, or if you represent an Active Ageing Centre that is intrigued by the value these course offer, please get in touch with us at nicaseniorprog@ntuc.org.sg to learn more about what NICA has to offer.
