As part of Hope Initiative Alliance (HIA)’s International Migrants Month programme, Alliance of Domestic Employees Outreach (ADEO)—a movement of HIA—has been organising a sponsored tour to Flower Dome by Gardens by the Bay for 1,500 MDWs from 20 November to 25 December 2022. As we seek to continuously improve their lives and bring integration between them and the community, such an initiative has helped to make them feel appreciated and bring them joy as many may not get the opportunity to visit such tourist attractions in Singapore.
Launched in December 2021, ADEO has reached out to over 5,000 MDWs from different ethnic or nationality groups; has more than 100 partners including government agencies, embassies, NGOs, employment agencies, religious organisations, and many more. Together with the partners, more than 20 events were organised, with around 200 MDWs pledging their membership with ADEO. In addition, over 20 volunteers from various occupations such as students, accountants, managers, and the MDWs themselves, have graciously taken their time and efforts to serve the MDWs. All of them expressed their positive experience with ADEO, sharing that the events were enjoyable not only for the MDWs, but also for them as they extended help for the activities. They were also looking forward to being involved in the subsequent events.
In celebration of ADEO’s anniversary, a Feast of Appreciation, supported by MOM and other ADEO partners, will be held on Sunday, 11 December 2022, bringing around 300 MDWs to gather in the city, graced by the Minister of State for Education and Manpower, Ms Gan Siow Huang. Fun activities such as carnival games, flea market, cake cutting, lucky draws and free meals will be provided at the event.
In conjunction with International Migrants Day on 18 December 2022, this event aims to show appreciation to our MDWs for their effort and sacrifices in taking care of the families here in Singapore. The President of HIA, Rev Ezekiel Tan, shared his sentiment about this event, “During this International Migrant Month, while in the past, attention was mostly given to the migrant brothers in the dormitories, ADEO hopes to bring the awareness of holistic care to the migrant domestic sisters, making them feel at home in Singapore, and even see Singapore as their second home, with the bigger society as their families away from home.”
ADEO is proud to see the MDWs have benefitted from ADEO programmes, including free tours to iconic places of interest in Singapore, monthly gathering in the city and skill-based training. The greatest accomplishment is to see the ADEO community growing, with MDWs being more confident and appreciated, and in turn, they lead other MDWs to learn to appreciate what the community is doing and care for one another. They also go out of their way to encourage their friends to take part in the activities offered by ADEO. One of the domestic helpers who attended ADEO event for the first time, and is also new to her job in Singapore, shared, “I truly felt the care and respect, I would like to register and be part of ADEO”.
We hope that through this celebration, we can continue to empower, equip and uplift the lives of the MDWs in our midst as we reach out to more of them in 2023 and work together in improving lives!
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