Direct Life Education, the education and advisory arm of Direct Funeral Services (DFS), has formally launched a free community programme designed to help older people capture personal memories and create a structured way to begin sensitive conversations about the end of life.
Pilot courses and official launch
The initiative, called My Story, My Life, was marked at a participant appreciation ceremony following a pilot run held at Toa Payoh West Community Club on 3 and 10 October. The event was attended by Mr Cai Yinzhou, Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, and served both to thank pilot participants and to mark the official launch of Direct Life Education (DLE).
Programme purpose and funding
DLE says the project aims to change how people approach discussions about death and remembrance by encouraging a stronger focus on the lived experiences of older people. Organisers say the scheme provides opportunities for seniors to reflect on their lives, preserve memories and strengthen connections across generations.
All activities under DLE are fully funded by DFS, the company has stated, with the keepsake journal developed as a tool to make it easier for families and older people themselves to initiate conversations that might otherwise be avoided.
“Conversations around death are often difficult to start or viewed as taboo. I have seen how loved ones have struggled as they deal with grief, uncovering keepsakes and photos, showing a side of those who have passed they never knew, and realising it’s too late to find out. Our My Story, My Life initiative reflects our broader mission to encourage meaningful conversations that help us learn more about one another’s lives while we still can. We designed the keepsake journal to be simple, giving people a natural way to start conversations with their parents, grandparents, and even for the seniors themselves to initiate these chats. The ultimate goal is to make the journal available to all so that more families and individuals can celebrate the lives of their loved ones, and in time, take on more difficult conversations. Because we shouldn’t ask a person how they
Practical effects for families and communities
For families, the programme offers a structured prompt to record biographical details and personal remembrances before a crisis occurs. Organisers argue that this can reduce the shock and information gaps relatives sometimes face after a death, when undisclosed keepsakes or forgotten stories come to light.
For community settings such as neighbourhood clubs and seniors’ centres, the initiative represents a low-cost way to support social and emotional wellbeing among older residents. The keepsake journal is designed to be accessible and to encourage participation from people who might not otherwise take part in formal life-story activities.
- Dates of pilot: 3 and 10 October
- Location: Toa Payoh West Community Club
- Stakeholders: Direct Life Education (education arm of Direct Funeral Services), Care Corner Seniors Services, local MP present at event
Context and wider implications
Efforts to normalise conversations about death and remembrance intersect with broader debates in education about life skills, community learning and intergenerational exchange. While funerals and bereavement have typically been handled within families or by faith and community groups, initiatives such as My Story, My Life place the processes of remembrance and legacy-taking into an educational framework.
The model — a funded, community-focused programme that produces a physical keepsake to scaffold conversation — could be of interest to other organisations working in adult learning and social care. It also raises questions for policy-makers and education providers about how life-course learning is supported outside formal schooling, and how resources are allocated to programmes that sit between wellbeing, social care and education.
The full scope of the programme, including plans for wider rollout or evaluation measures, was not detailed in the material released with the launch. Organisers have emphasised accessibility and the aim of making the journal available to all as a first step towards enabling more families to celebrate and discuss the lives of older relatives while they can.
