Last December, we partnered Celebrate Christmas in Singapore (CCIS) to share the hope of Christmas with migrant workers and disadvantaged children.
Laurent Tan, the staff who co-led the project shared, “When we were thinking of reaching the marginalised, migrant workers came to mind since we are aware of their contributions to our nation and how badly hit they are by the pandemic. We also thought of children from disadvantaged backgrounds because we have been working with a family service centre reaching out to these children.”
He further added, “We organised an online Christmas party of games and craft for the children. Our youngest participant was only four, and everyone who attended the party heard about the amazing Christmas gift through a video put up by a volunteer and her young daughter.”
For migrant workers, different ministry teams and their students packed and distributed blessing kits as well as organised a cultural exchange programme and a Christmas carnival.
For migrant workers, different ministry teams and their students packed and distributed blessing kits as well as organised a cultural exchange programme and a Christmas carnival.
One junior college student, Soh Rui Yang, found the whole experience very meaningful. Through the presentation about the migrant workers during packing day, he understood better the migrant workers’ plights. While writing Christmas cards for them, Rui Yang hoped that they knew Singaporeans care for them.
Rui Yang’s friend, Lee Jo-Yang, passed a blessing kit to Ershad in Little India. Ershad, a Bangladeshi, came to Singapore in 2005. He said with much regret that, “I many many miss my family. My coming time very small my baby. But now she is seven and can talk and do many things, but I cannot be there.” When asked what his greatest hope this Christmas was, he replied, “I waiting for God to help me. I really miss my daughters and my family.”
Ohmmar Myint, a Burmese nursing student, who was also with us at Little India, identified with what Ershad shared. Ohmmar also was unable to go home for the past two years and she hoped she had brought some comfort to the migrant workers she met, letting them know they are not alone here. Students were grateful for the opportunity to interact personally with at least one migrant worker each through the activities.
Chong Xiu Yi, another junior college student, shared, “I never expected the migrant workers to open up so much to us and I was so sad when I heard one of them sharing that he was on the MRT, and no one wanted to sit next to him. The stigma is still there.”
This stigma is something that Timothy Leong, a volunteer with the Secondary School and Junior College Ministry, felt we could help students make sense of. He explained, “We want to be involved in community service because we hope for things to be better, and it is because of the evil within and outside of us that caused us to see someone as lesser. Thus, it makes sense for us to share with the students the birth of Jesus Christ since it is only through Him that evil can be overcome.”’
Xiu Yi and Rui Yang who got to hear the Christmas story, were very glad they had participated in a meaningful cause with their Christian friends. Xiu Yi said that after this event she would smile to migrant workers in her neighbourhood and get them each a drink if she has a chance to do so. For that, Laurent felt this project had reached its objective – that while SYFC remains an organization that seeks to reach young people with the gospel, through our involvement with them in helping others in society, we can inspire the young people to do more.
All participants adhered to Safe Management Measures, self administered an ART test and submitted a valid negative result before joining on-site events held at Emmanuel House.
