HOME shelter volunteer Puja shares her experience of teaching English at our shelter for domestic workers. We have a team of volunteers running these lessons at different levels,  managed by long time volunteer Stefania.

I started volunteering with HOME six months back, joining a few other motivated ladies in teaching English language to HOME residents (all migrant domestic workers in Singapore). When I started, I had no idea how challenging the classes could be. After a few classes I realized that my well thought out lesson plan had no place here, I had to think on my feet every single class! Our lessons have to be as dynamic and fast evolving as the students of the class – some days we have over 30 enthusiastic students, other days just a handful. Some residents attend lessons for weeks and need structured teaching while others leave after one class. Some residents are confident English speakers and write prose and poetry, while others cannot communicate in English beyond their name.

Despite the challenges, what keeps me and my fellow teachers going is the fact that we are empowering women in the true spirit of the word – little by little, utilizing the limited time they have with us to upgrade their skills and hone their confidence. Our classes are also an opportunity for residents to share stories of struggle, joy and hope. Some classes have emotionally charged moments, like on International Women’s Day when we asked residents to write about a woman in their life who has inspired them; one resident broke down as she described her beautiful relationship with her stepmother, who was in her eyes a “wonder woman.”

Finally, at the end of the day, I hope and pray that we have in some way kindled the joy of learning through our classes, even in those who don’t stay with us for long. For as they say, “A teacher affects eternity; she can never know where her influence stops.”

HOME is grateful to all our amazing volunteers, and we want to extend a big thank you to all in our team of tireless English teachers. Learning the language is very important when living in a foreign country, not only to improve communication with employers, but also express their feelings and ensure these women know their rights and how to ask for assistance when needed.

Are you inspired by Puja’s story and interested to volunteer at HOME? Look for more information. 

During an English class at HOME shelter the residents were given the homework to write about their family, and specifically the relationship and the love between siblings. This resulted in some beautiful writing that we are happy to share with you today.

From Ana Barzo

To My Younger Sister.
I chose to write about her among our siblings because she is the one closest to me.
We are not only sisters, we are also best friends… even if in life we can’t avoid some arguments, has we had mostly when we were teenagers.
We have never competed, but she always thought I was mum’s favourite!
We are very different, in our way of thinking as well as in our physical appearance, but i really love her so much!
Even if I am older she is more mature than me.
She is a very talented person; she accomplished her studies in BS Agriculture and she is now working as supervisor in an agriculture company.
I admire her because even if I am far away she always remembers me and recalls special, funny moments of our life, as we had a shower or played together, to make me smile. I am so thankful and blessed to have a sister like her, because mostly now, being stocked without working, she takes care of all the responsibilities instead of me, gives financial support to my two kids and most of all she gives them her affection!
I love you so much sister, you are in my heart now and forever… I miss you so much
Love&Care
Ana

From Myra Pedronan

I have a very good relationship both with my sister and my brother.
I am the second child, very close to my sister and I am her big fan. I like all about her, except the way she handles her temper, but we are best friends.
When I was still young though we had a good relationship we weren’t so close as today. Now our bond is very strong.
When i came to Singapore, she was already here, and every time we buy dresses which are the kind of clothing we both are obsessed with, we buy the same shoes/sandals and we wear them the same day and everyone asks if we are twins!
She is a very caring, loving, approchable and responsible sister and daughter.
She gives more than what she takes, she is very hardworking and she is always thinking how to payback the sacrifice my parents made for her, for us.
She supports me whatever decision I make, so I can tell her even my secrets and so can she. I love her with all my heart, together with my brother!

From May Joy

“A woman without a sister is like a bird without wings”
When we were young my second sister was my worst enemy: she was convinced that my parents loved me more than her.
But the we grew up that feeling of rivalry turned into the strongest relationship ever.
Now she is always there to help me and I can rely on her either financially or emotionally.
Although my mother in law is taking car of my son, my sister always finds time to visit him and provide to his needs.It is particularly important now that I am away to work to know that she is there showing her love to him!
When I was pregnant she provided me with all my needs, including babies clothes, shampoo, cream even cotton puds when I was in the hospital!
That’s why I can say that having a sister in your life is like having a very best friend. Because a sister will always be there you, always stand by you no matter what will happen!

From Roda S. Misasa

Out of my eight siblings there are especially two I am very attached to. Tough we all has a very good relationship I feel so thankful for having Myra and Leah as sisters.
actually they are not really my own sisters, they are my 1st cousins, but we grew up together, we shared the same house, we shared the same room, the same bed…
My parents took care of them since they were babies, because both their parents passed away.
Myla and Leah are more than sisters, they are my best friends, my biggest supporters and defenders. I can tell them everything and they are always there for me especially when I am down they know how to cheer me up giving me good advices, courage and strength. I am the oldest but they are more mature than me. They changed my life, I can say that they both are the answers to my prayers… I have always asked my parents for a sister, but no… all boys… Until one day Mayla and Leah came into our home, my life!

During a creative writing class at HOME shelter, we decided to write letters. The recipients of our letters are people we are missing, people we love and are not by our sides, people who passed away, or even people we have had arguments with. With these letters, we are telling them things that stayed unsaid, feelings and emotions, love.

To my mother,

Do you remember when you taught me how to write a letter? I never wrote a letter to you ever since. You always taught me how to write letters to my father.

I want you to know that I miss you a lot. I miss when we talked and laughed together. I know you were looking after me all the time. I miss you looking after us. I miss when we had arguments and misunderstandings. I learnt so much from you although we were not so close. But I know you really loved me, loved us… Mother… I miss your voice really. I miss you when I cry and you are not here to hug me. I miss your generosity, your understanding, love, and caring.

I hope you are happy wherever you are. And do not worry about me. I know and you know that I can face any difficulty. In every life struggle, I can stand. I know you will lend your hand and hold me in every way. God will be there for us as you always told me. I Love you so much…

Your loving daughter, Richy.

 

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To my loving son, Jacob Ryll,

I remember the first time I saw you. It has been nine months that I have been carrying you inside my stomach. I cannot explain my feelings the day I saw you: if I cried, laughed, or whatever. But I felt I wan a big price, like a jackpot. You brought happiness in my life… For me you are the best precious treasure I have in my life. Thank you for the moments that we have together and thank you for giving me the chance to be a mother and do my role as your mother.

I am so proud because I know you are a good boy, respectful and smart. I miss our bonding and your hugs, kisses, your laugh and also your cries. I miss you to call me mommy. I know you are just a kid so no need for you to know what is happening to me here in Singapore. Baby you are my strength and inspiration. I love you so much. Thanks for being a part of my life. Get well soon. Mommy is coming home. I love you so much.

                                                                                                            Mommy Yin

 

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Dear employer,

Ma’am you were always scolding me. You were always criticizing me, my people, my country. You are naughty. But I loved your big dog and your two daughters. The eldest is fourteen and your young daughter is eleven years old. She loses her mind sometimes. I love her and she loves me so much too. You did not like that the two of us were so close. I was very sad. Your youngest daughter wanted to talk to everybody but they did not want to talk to her because they thought she was a stupid girl. I am different. I don’t see her as a stupid girl. I was taking care of her very well. So she was very happy and loved me a lot. But you did not like that she loved me so much, that we were so close. Now I am very sad because I had no choice than leaving you. You were too bad with me. I had no choice than leaving her because of you. I will never forget your daughter during my entire life.

Sincerely, KTW

 

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My dear sisters at HOME shelter,

I hope all of you are always healthy and had a good day. I will always miss you my sisters. I was so happy with all of you. We are a family. When I think about my family at home, I know I must get a job, I must go out of the shelter cause I must find an employer. If I stay at the shelter with all m sisters, enjoying all the activities, what will happen to my family in my country who is waiting for my money?

My dear sisters, thank you for supporting me. I am now more experienced with all the activities. Preparing good meals, yoga, learning English, dancing… I will never forget that during all my life. All these activities made me more experienced. I love you and already miss you so much.

Arni

 

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To the special person in my life,

I am sorry sometimes I scold you. Remember I am doing this for your own good. I really miss when I sleep with you, when I prepare your food, iron your uniform, prepare your things for school. When I give you your vitamins everyday. Remember when I tell you to drink more water? I love you my baby and I miss you so much. I know you love me and miss me too. Thank you for coming into my life. Thank you for being a good son for me. I know you want me to go home but I need to work to support all your needs. Don’t worry, I’m ok here. Take care, always.

Love, Mama Kassie .

 

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To my employer,

I really enjoyed looking after your three kids. But you were always giving me your angry face and scolding me. So I became unhappy with you and I decided to go back to my parents. Oh, I am so happy for that. You really did not like me; I don’t know why. Why you were always angry at me? I took care of your kids. But you were showing me your angry face all the time. So I did not want to stay at your place anymore. But your three kids, I really, really love them so much. Now I am missing them more than ever. So, I am not feeling good.

TSM

 

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To my parents,

Father, mother, how are you today? Do you remember me everyday? Everyday I am sad because I really miss you. All the time, I am always thinking about you, only you, because you are so special to me.

I don’t know when I can meet with you again. I want to go back home. I don’t want to live in Singapore anymore. Because life in Singapore is not easy; it is very difficult. Before, I thought living in Singapore would be easy but I was wrong. Living in Singapore is very difficult. Everyday I pray to my God. My God please help me. I want to go back to my country. But don’t worry mother, I am fine here.

Your daughter, May

 

Every week between 60 and 80 women stay at the HOME shelter. Here they receive what they need in terms of food, clothing and hygiene kits. HOME also assists them with their cases, and listens to their sometimes heartbreaking stories. Every week the women can take part in a wide range of activities and classes. In the writing class last week, the participants wrote about some of their experiences at the shelter.

Lea:

I am Lea, I have been here for 3 days. During my experience, here, I am learning a lot every day. I do my things and I also join all the activities here. The volunteers are very nice and very good. They teach and explain many things.

At the shelter, I feel comfortable. Here there is no stress, I have a lot of sisters; we share and talk every day. I am so blessed and lucky to be here because the people here are very helpful to each other’s. I am very happy to be here.

Annalyn:

I arrived here last Sunday at night, I decided to come here for help because I can’t trust my agent and my employer. When I am here, I feel safe and comfortable. I experience a lot of things like attending yoga, cooking and baking class, English. It is so much fun and interesting! I love it because I can relax and also challenge myself.

They treat me like a sister. We stay here like in our home. We have freedom. They help us to improve ourselves, they teach us to respect each other and to help each other.

Ana Marie:

Here at HOME organization, I experience being treated as a real human. The people here have a heart and have patience to listen to your story. And they provide good food so that we can eat properly and not pass the meals. They bring us to activities that we can enjoy; it helps us with forgetting our worries and laugh with friends.

The volunteers here are very nice and have also good hearts. They provide all the needs and make sure we are happy and feel safe. That is why I am so blessed to be here right now.

Maeya:

I am from the Philippines, I am 35 years old. I ran away because my boss doesn’t want to give me off day and was scolding me all the time. Since I arrived at HOME I feel much safer. I feel peaceful in my mind. I can go out of my problems because I can talk with people, not like before when I was at my employer’s house. Here I sleep well, I learn more English. I am happy here. And I meet some friends from Myanmar, Indonesia, and of course, from the Philippines.

Joy:

The first day at the shelter I was so worried because I didn’t have anything. I only brought a t-shirt and a pair of shorts. I worried about how long I was going to stay here. Suddenly the leader of the shelter found out that I had no clothes, and she gave me a plastic bag full of nice clothes and everything I needed, such as toothpaste, toothbrush, soap and towel. I felt so happy.

The next day I made some friends and we talked about our experiences and why we had run away. It was a relief to talk to them. We always talk, laugh and joke and we do activities together like yoga class, baking, cooking and English. The most unforgettable moment was in the English writing class, where I wrote a poem and a short story about my life. This was the first time I told anyone about my life from I was young until now, I never shared this with anyone.

I feel happy about my everyday life here. I wake up at 5 am to prepare breakfast, but I am never tired because all of us have a different story and we must help each other. I know what it feels like when no one takes care of you. I am going to miss my friends here after my case is finished.

Catherine:

I feel so comfortable when I stay here and I think of this place as my second home. Sometimes we who live here don’t understand each other because we come from different countries and speak different languages, we have different cultures and so many other things, but we can still relate to each other’s feelings. We all want a better life. I am so happy when I see a friend go home or to another employer, because then I know that they can start again on a new journey of life. Sadness can happen in a life, but we need to continue our lives for our families.

Jessica:

I felt very scared when I first came to the shelter, but HOME made me feel like I was not alone anymore. For almost two months they have taken care of me and helped me to process my case. I feel they are like family, I feel cared for, I feel comfortable. I met a lot of friends from other countries and they made me wake up from the bad dream that was my employer’s house.

HOME helped me to become stronger than I was before, I can eat properly, I sleep well and no one can beat me or make me unhappy anymore. I know how to laugh again and I wake up every morning with a smile.

I want to thank the volunteers also to keep on helping HOME. If they were not there, we couldn’t stay here for so long and they understand our situation.

I thank God now that I can soon go HOME to my family, and I thank HOME for the comfort and care. I will never forget what you have done for me!

The beautiful drawings shown were made during one of HOME writing classes by artist Carla Talopp.

© 2017 Carla Tallopp

This January HOME shelter hosted a workshop by , a charity teaching language fluency, conceptual thought and self-esteem through creative writing. Over the course of the week the students took part in brainstorming sessions with images and song lyrics to create their own poems and short stories, a selection of poetry written by shelter residents is shown below.