My Births & Rebirths with Transgender Advocate from The T Project

What to Expect

Join us for an open and deeply personal conversation with Shania Yusof, a transgender advocate, and Dr Jeremiah Pereira, the resident physician at Pulse Clinic, Singapore’s only one-stop provider of holistic, gender-affirming care. This programme offers a rare opportunity to hear both the medical and lived realities of navigating gender dysphoria in Singapore today.

We begin with introductions, setting the tone for a safe and respectful space. Dr Pereira will then walk us through the medical understanding of gender dysphoria, the difference between gender and sexuality, and the kinds of treatments available—from mental health support and hormone therapy to surgical interventions. He will also share insights into the evolving history of gender-affirming medicine in Singapore, the systemic gaps that still exist, and what holistic, evidence-based care should look like. As a queer healthcare provider himself, his work is not just professional—it’s personal.

Shania will follow with her own story. For years, she sought treatment without a clear diagnosis, struggling with feelings that intensified during puberty and surfaced painfully in her intimate relationships. It wasn’t until much later that she finally heard the word that made sense of it all: dysphoria. Her journey, shaped by social transitioning from a young age, self-discovery through art therapy, and years of being misdiagnosed, highlights the very real challenges transgender individuals face in seeking understanding and support.

She’ll speak candidly about identity, authenticity, and what it took to live life on her own terms—despite fears of rejection, invisibility, or dying without ever being seen for who she truly is. Her story is not just about transition, but about claiming her truth and choosing how she wants to be remembered.

Together, Shania and Dr Pereira will explore the process of diagnosis, the importance of mental health screening, and how care can be individualised for each person’s needs. You’ll also learn practical information—how to access subsidised treatment, what to expect from therapy, and why truly affirming care requires a team-based, transdisciplinary approach.

About Birth & Rebirths

What does it mean to be reborn? For some, it is a spiritual awakening—being baptised, embracing a new faith, or finding solace in age-old rituals that mark a transition into a different way of living. For others, rebirth comes in the form of reinvention—leaving behind a troubled past, overcoming illness, or finding purpose after loss. From ex-residents who have rebuilt their lives, to individuals who have found strength in faith, community, or personal conviction, their stories remind us that transformation is always possible.

Through facilitated dialogues with the social workers, and people on the fringes of our society we hope to provide opportunities for participants to engage in candid and heartfelt conversations.

About the Organisation

The T Project is Singapore’s first social service for the transgender community. This independent community initiative was set up by Miss June Chua and her late sister Miss Alicia Chua in June 2014. They realised that there were many gaps in the existing social service sectors, which did not address the needs of Singapore’s transgender community.

Aware of the challenges faced by transgender individuals, they first decided to open a shelter that would serve as a temporary safe haven for anyone who was homeless in the community. The residents are welcome to stay at the shelter for an initial period of 6 months, until they are able to find alternative housing or a more permanent place.

In June 2014, our first shelter was set up with the help of another NGO. 
The T Project shelter is the only social service in Singapore that exists specifically to cater to both the transwoman and transman community and LGBT people living with HIV.  Our shelter program also provides suitable referral support to our residents to meet their employment, social, healthcare, and emotional needs.

In June 2016, with the help of the community and allies, The T Project managed to raise approximately $130,000 to set up our shelter in Geylang.In July and August 2018, we managed to raise another $60,000 for shelter rent and operations in a campaign called ‘Project Re-Lease’. And in 2022, a new fundraise is launched to support our work, “Can you please be a champion for the most neglected and forgotten today”.

In our outreach efforts to corporations and social service sectors, it became clear that job opportunities were really limited for the transgender community. Therefore, The T Project decided to create job opportunities for our own community.


We actively connect interested trans individuals (both resident and non-resident) to jobs that are trans-affirmative. The T Project also connects residents to a social worker if they are eligible for financial or medical aid.

We hope that with a safe and affirmative/ supportive place to stay at, the residents will have stability and a sense of belonging in their lives. This will better enable them to plan for their futures.

We also regularly conduct shelter programs like our food ration drives, organised community events and fundraising events.

In 2018, the Alicia Community Centre was set up to provide a safe space for transgender/gender-non-binary individuals of all ages—particularly the youth. Apart from peer counselling services for the marginalised, the centre offers a non-judgmental place for LGBTQ youths to meet up and get social support.

The public is welcome to hold workshops and visit the centre to get more information about the community. The centre have since moved to an inclusive space called The Foundry.

About the Host

Shania’s life journey is one marked by resilience, healing, and the quiet strength of becoming. After living for over two decades with the pain of gender dysphoria, she found peace by embracing her gender diverse identity. This journey of self-understanding continues to guide her work and advocacy, both within communities and across disciplines.

Since 2005, Shania has worked in special and inclusive education, supporting neurodiverse learners through teaching, curriculum design, educator training, and programme development. Her work has always centred around care and access, and more recently, she has brought this same spirit into the arts. As a theatre-maker, she participated in trans:mission, a bold and affirming queer-led production exploring lived experiences of gender and transformation.

Shania is also committed to community support rooted in empathy. She volunteers with The T Project and serves as a peer supporter at Greenhouse, offering solidarity to individuals navigating trauma, displacement, and recovery. Her lived experience informs a deep belief in the power of listening, presence, and connection—especially for those at the intersection of gender diversity, neurodivergence, and faith.

Having undergone gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy and surgery, Shania now moves through the world with a renewed sense of wholeness. Through mentoring, creative work, and quiet acts of community, she holds space for others to reflect, belong, and heal—on their own terms and in their own time.

Dr. Jeremiah Pereira is a pioneering physician and advocate for inclusive healthcare in Singapore, specializing in gender-affirming care. They currently serve as the Resident Physician of PULSE Clinic, a primary care practice dedicated to providing affirming and evidence-based medical services to gender and sexual minorities.

Dr. Pereira graduated from the National University of Singapore in 2018 with an MBBS degree, having been awarded the SingHealth Undergraduate Medicine Scholarship. They completed their MRCP (UK) and Master of Medicine (Internal Medicine) in 2021.

In their practice, Dr. Pereira has introduced several innovative services, including Singapore's first local oestrogen implant service and compounding services for gender-affirming hormones. They also pioneered the Informed Consent Model for initiating gender-affirming hormones in Singapore, emphasising patient autonomy and informed decision-making.

Recognized for their contributions to healthcare, Dr. Pereira was honored with the APCOM HERO Award in 2023 in the Health and Wellbeing category. This accolade celebrates their commitment to advancing health equity and supporting gender-diverse communities.

Who should come?

• Participants must be at least 21 years of age.
• Participants are required to provide the last 4 digits of NRIC/FIN/Passport.

Programme Details

• Approximate Duration: 2 hours (Please arrive 15 minutes before the event for registration.)
• Language: English
• Meeting Point: Meet at the Entrance to Bettr Coffee @ The Foundry (11 Prinsep Link, Singapore 187949)

• Ending Point: The event will start and end at the same point.

• The event will proceed rain or shine.

What to bring?

• Participants should be dressed respectfully in smart casual (i.e. collared shirt, long pants and covered shoes). Sleeveless attire, shorts/miniskirts or sandals are strictly not allowed. Participants will be denied entry if they dress inappropriately.
• Participants should bring along an umbrella and a bottle of water.
• Asthmatic individuals are encouraged to bring their inhaler.

Other important information

• Parking is available on street at Prinsep Street or at Sunshine Plaza.
• The venue is wheelchair accessible.
• Photography is allowed during the event.

Disclaimer

• By agreeing to participate in the event, participants are responsible for any injury, loss or damage due to the negligence on his/her part or of the children under his/her charge.
• Participants must abide by the house rules set out by the host. Facilitators will brief participants at the start of the programme.
• Videos and photographs may also be taken during the event. By registering for this event, you give My Community full rights to use the photos for marketing and publicity.

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