Tzu Chi holds forum to connect migrants with local communities
The 2019 coronavirus pandemic has affected everyone across the globe. In Singapore, dormitory migrant workers were the largest infected group in the earlier days of the outbreak. In conjunction with International Migrants Day 2020, the Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre and A Good Space, a charity cooperative, held a "Reflection 2020: Voices of Our Migrants" forum for migrant workers to share about their feelings and the challenges they face during the pandemic. The event ended with everyone expressing their gratitude for the year 2020 and hoping for a better new year.
Speaker, Amy: Ten years ago, was just a weak woman, now, I am ready to reach for my dream.
Through her own poem, Amy from Indonesia shared about her working experience in Singapore for the past 10 years. As an art lover, she expresses her emotions through photography and poetry during the pandemic.
Speaker, Amy: I try to come out from my sadness with my writing, with my photograph, then I send to my friends, (tell them) don’t give up I hope people can see that this world is still very beautiful even we have many problems in our life.
Speaker, Syakirin: I have to stay apart from my wife who has just given birth.
In conjunction with International Migrants Day 2020, Humanistic Youth Centre collaborated with A Good Space to host a forum titled “Reflection 2020: Voices of Our Migrants” (for migrant workers) to share about their feelings and the challenges they face amid the pandemic.
MP for Nee Soon GRC, Louis Ng: I think the issue is that they are often invisible in the society, so I think it is important to have events like this for people to hear the stories directly from the migrant friends to understand what they are going through, the difficulties that they are facing, together we can co-create the solutions to make Singapore a better place for all.
Li Juan who works as a nurse is unable to see her child in China due to the ongoing pandemic. The similar situation (faced by others) has resonated with her and gave her hope.
Event participant, Li Juan: For sure I feel very sad, I’ve thought of resigning, however, since I’ve been working here for 4 to 5 years, so I decided to just persevere for a while longer. It relieves me a lot, it is very encouraging, we are not alone. Together, we can overcome the difficulty.
Participants wrote down their wish for a new year and aspire for a better future with hope.
