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At a glance:
- Volunteering helps your helper feel recharged and fulfilled.
- She gains skills like digital literacy and emotional intelligence.
- You’ll benefit from a happier, more motivated helper.
When your migrant domestic worker (MDW) spends her rest days engaged in meaningful activities, everyone benefits. She returns to your home feeling refreshed, fulfilled and more motivated to work. Such an experience can be found in volunteering as a Care Sister, an initiative between the Ministry of Manpower and its partners.
As a Care Sister, your MDW volunteers to support her fellow domestic workers through knowledge-sharing and emotional support. This enriches her rest days and also lets her build connections. Both of which give her a greater sense of purpose in working in Singapore and can positively impact her work performance.
Curious about what exactly the Care Sisters do?
Reaching out to MDWs
Care Sisters actively visit locations where MDWs gather during rest days to connect with them. These face-to-face interactions help identify domestic workers who may be struggling to adjust to life and work in Singapore. Care Sisters provide them with support to help prevent small issues from becoming bigger challenges.
Spreading digital literacy
In today's digital world, technology skills are essential. Care Sisters help fellow MDWs learn to use important digital tools such as the MOM WhatsApp Channel for MDWs, the SG Work Pass app and Singpass. They also introduce video calling apps that allow MDWs to maintain strong connections with family back home and advise them on appropriate non-working hours to call home, easing homesickness that might otherwise affect their well-being and work performance.
Additionally, Care Sisters help MDWs gain skills such as psychological first aid and content creation, empowering them to share important messages, such as scam awareness, among their friends.
Care Sisters play a vital role in disseminating important information with MDWs, such as:
- Compliance with the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act
- How to avoid unlicensed moneylenders and common types of scams
- Basic budgeting and saving techniques
- Accessing mental health resources when needed
By proactively addressing these issues, MDWs prevent them from escalating into significant employment, financial or mental well-being problems, benefiting both themselves and their employers.
Offering emotional support
Being alone in a foreign land, many MDWs may not know who to turn to when in distress. Care Sisters offer them a listening ear and emotional support, helping to alleviate the isolation and stress that MDWs sometimes experience.
Developing their own skills and networking
Care Sisters also develop personally by attending events like workshops that expose them to skills such as psychological first aid and content creation, which allows them to improve themselves.
Of course, being part of a community of like-minded volunteers allows Care Sisters to make friends and build positive social networks during rest days!
Everyone benefits
When your MDW volunteers as a Care Sister, she gains purpose, satisfaction, and a sense of belonging. She’ll return home feeling recharged and positive, carrying renewed enthusiasm into her daily work. The connections formed through this community also create a valuable network of support that contributes to her own mental well-being.
Encourage your MDW to find out more and join the Care Sisters today. It's a rewarding step towards happier, healthier, and more fulfilling rest days.