As the numbers for new COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Singapore, particularly amongst foreign workers in Singapore where a vast majority of new cases involving those from dormitories, Singaporeans have rallied to provide help and assistance.
One GrabFood delivery rider, Twitter user @Mxhdlskandar, tweeted about a delivery he made on behalf of a customer, Eve Tan.
He shared screenshots of his conversation with her on Tuesday (April 14) where she made an order of $100 worth of food to be delivered to the S11 Dormitory @ Punggol, which has been gazetted as an isolation site, with a note that the order was “for the Bangladeshi quarantined there or working staff”[sic].
Help foreign workers stuck in dormitories in Singapore: Singaporeans rallying to provide help and assistance | Image: Twitter/@MxhdIskandar
Aside from these personal efforts, many other community groups have also rallied together to organise fundraisers and volunteer efforts that would meet the needs of the foreign workers in Singapore during this period.
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While sending food in a personal capacity to the dormitories is definitely well-intentioned, you may also be deciding whether or not to donate your solidarity payout. You could also consider volunteering with organisations that have knowledge and direct access to foreign workers living in Singapore and are most aware of their current pressing needs.
For those looking to donate their time or money, here’s how you can help foreign workers stuck in dormitories in Singapore:
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Choose from a wide array of projects and initiatives that the non-profit organisation conducts to help migrant workers during COVID-19.
You can donate towards healthy meals or specific needs that workers have, send supplies like toiletries, nutritious snacks, treats and sanitisers, or conduct virtual English tutoring lessons for workers.
Click here for the full list of initiatives.
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The non-governmental organisation is raising funds to buy daily necessities like bathroom essentials for migrant workers who are required to stay in and to provide food and accommodation to those whose flights home were cancelled.
The money will also be disbursed to migrant workers who are not receiving a salary because of the circuit breaker.
Click here to contribute.
Basic healthcare, emergency financial assistance, housing, food and travel for migrant workers is what the charity is raising funds for during this period.
Click here to contribute.
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UPDATE: Today we delivered 1200 sets of lunch and dinner to 600 workers housed across various Factory-converted Dormitories (FCDs). Although we reach 10,000 workers at the height of our efforts, we have unfortunately been restricted by a lack of funds—which need to be sustained over the next 20 days—and have been forced to reduce daily distribution numbers. Help us to do more today. Visit giving.sg/hope-initiative-alliance/guestworkers. ⠀ On Good Friday alone, we delivered 9218 packets of food for lunch and dinner, across 130 FCDs. Accounts from our contacts on the ground have revealed that in some instances, workers were surviving on biscuits for entire days, without any substantial food. ⠀ While one meal costs just $2 on average (or on other urgent occasions owing to a large demand, up to $4), these nationwide efforts need more support to be sustained over the Circuit Breaker period. ⠀ To maintain these efforts over the next 20 days—to provide lunch and dinner for about 10,000 workers whom we have reached thus far (in total), nearly $800,000 will be required. These figures do not include items for basic hygiene such as masks, hand sanitisers and medical kits, which will bring that total to more than $1 Million—just to meet the basic needs of these 10,000 guest workers alone. ⠀ While we hope to assist these 10,000 workers, the needs are far greater than just this number. The 10,000 workers we will be reaching only comprise less than 1% of the 980,000 low-wage workers in Singapore. ⠀ While many of us may be privileged to receive extra funding through the Solidarity budget, these workers do not enjoy the same benefits. If you should have enough, we urge you to consider giving towards this worthy cause. ⠀ ⠀ Help us to do more today.
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Under the banner of #HomeForAll, several non-governmental organisations, government agencies and citizens are gathering funds to distribute care meals, raise hygiene standards and provide internet connectivity to workers.
Click here to contribute.
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The social enterprise is looking for sponsors keen on providing access to a learning app with customised courses like English, computer literacy, financial literacy and mental well-being.
You can also contribute towards welfare packages comprising hand sanitisers, masks, rice, oil, biscuits, instant noodles and puffed rice.
Click here to contribute.
Eight photographers have banded together to sell their prints with all proceeds going towards the Covid Migrant Support Coalition, comprising Migrant X Me, ItsRainingRaincoats, Citizen Adventures and Singapore Migrant Friends.
Click here to purchase prints.
7. Utopia SG
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THANK YOU for donating so generously! With your help, we were able to reach our target of 100k a little after 12hours and at the time of writing this, we are almost at 200k! We have been in touch with both HealthServe and TWC2 and received updates about the efforts that your donations will be helpful towards: HealthServe: – Supporting daily operations like healthcare services, tele-counselling, case management and more. -Continue giving out free healthcare packs and financial aid to Special Pass holders not living in dorms. [https://bit.ly/HealthServeFBUpdate] TWC2: -Supporting daily operations like casework assistance, healthcare services, WhatsApp conferencing and more. -Continuing the purchase of prepaid cards for migrant workers to contact loved ones and case workers or TWC2 for required assistance. HealthServe and TWC2 will be receiving the donations from give.asia on a monthly basis unless they request an early transfer. Neither Preetipls nor UTOPIA will be handling any funds. Like we mentioned in the fundraising campaign, the needs of the migrant worker community are changing everyday. As this pandemic develops, the daily operations and services provided by HealthServe and TWC2 are paramount to supporting the migrant worker community. Your donations will allow them to continue providing these services in addition to any new initiatives required to address future needs. For more information about the good work they are currently doing and any other future initiatives, do follow them on their socials. A lot of work lies ahead for us all, but thank you for lending your hand in these unusual times. Your donation is more than just dollars in a bank account of an NGO. It is helping a vulnerable community who are in dire need of our support, and a vote towards a more equitable and liveable Singapore for all.
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The crowdfunding campaign by Preeti Nair, also known as Preetipls, will be raising funds for non-governmental organisations, HealthServe and Transient Workers Count Too.
SoapCycling is aiming to distribute 20,000 bars of soap to migrant workers and low income populations.
Click here to contribute.
Mutual Aid Hub has also compiled a constantly-updated list of non-governmental organisations that are working towards meeting migrant worker’s needs during this COVID-19 period that you can refer to for more ways that you can contribute.
For the latest updates on the coronavirus, visit here.
This post was first published on AsiaOne and was republished on theAsianparent with permission.
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