Founding Member Speech 

Our story begins when I first arrived in Singapore. Adapting to the new environment was very challenging, and I faced difficulties finding relevant information and support. I was so confused and overwhelmed that I didn’t know where to start or where to get the right information. After much effort, I came across some communities in Singapore, but the experience was disappointing.

The information they provided was limited and unhelpful, and I didn’t feel comfortable approaching them. They hadn’t set up any help desks or services for welfare, information, or career support for migrant workers. Instead, their focus was mostly on cultural events held once or twice a year. To participate, you needed to pay membership fees, with some communities charging as much as $300—an amount that was unaffordable for most new migrant workers.

Eventually, after a long time, I managed to find support from some NGOs. These NGOs were willing to help, but they only handled specific cases within certain categories. While their assistance was helpful, it wasn’t easy to access, and I still couldn’t find a centralized support desk for general information, guidance, or resources.

After a few years, I decided to do something. I spoke with my friends and, together with the help of newly arrived migrants from different countries, we formed a small group called Migrant Welfare. The goal was to provide free counseling and support to migrants. Since 2010, we have been working under what is now known as the Migrant Matters program (previously Migrant Welfare).

In 2014, we officially launched Migrant Matters as a group initiative. Since then, we have expanded our efforts to include not just cultural and mental health support, but also minor assistance for migrants. We advocate for their needs, provide relevant information through social media platforms, and collaborate with local communities, NGOs, and other organizations to improve the support system for migrant workers.

Migrant Matter and Me:

Well, we have successfully organized several impactful initiatives, including counseling sessions, cultural events, group volunteering activities, and most recently, the blood donation drive on November 24, 2024, which was a remarkable success. I’m truly proud of our achievements and the inspiration we draw from the incredible collaboration among our members. 

We are migrants, and we are the pride of our families—the great sons and daughters who bring honor to our loved ones. We’ve sacrificed precious time with our loved ones to fly to Singapore. Why? Because we wanted to take responsibility for our families, care for them, and make them happy.

But the beauty of our contribution doesn’t stop there. It’s not just about our families. Our remittances support the economies of our home countries, and our hard work creates a great impact here in Singapore. Many of my migrant brothers work hard in manual jobs, and Singaporeans truly appreciate our efforts.

And now, we have an even bigger dream—to contribute even more to this country. We want to keep improving, stay updated with the changing times, and prepare ourselves for new challenges. That’s why we aim to enhance our skills, learn more, and bring meaningful contributions to our workplaces.

Now, let me clarify—improving your skills doesn’t mean changing your profession or moving away from your current job. Sometimes, it’s about doing the same work, but in a better way.

When you simply do something versus when you understand what you’re doing, there’s a huge difference. If you’re passionate about learning and improving, your work becomes easier, and you can produce higher-quality results. This not only makes your job more enjoyable but also satisfies your employer.

So, whatever you do, remember to learn, grow, and always strive to improve your skills.

When we talk about self-improvement, it’s not just about technical skills. It includes communication, psychological growth, and mental health. These are all connected, and today, we are gathered here as a migrant community to create a positive impact together.

Improving our skills, especially communication, allows us to share ideas and knowledge. It also supports our mental health and helps us feel more at home when we connect with our community and spend time with friends.

And today, I’d like to talk about our amazing work with our Migrant Matter Community.

Dear locals, 

I want to share about a project called Migrant Matter. The main idea is simple: we want to support our community, especially migrants, by helping them connect with locals and feel at home.

This project isn’t about me or gaining recognition; it’s all about community well-being. We haven’t raised funds, but that’s okay. Our members cover basic costs like transport and food. I’ve even used my own savings to keep things running because my goal is to create a space for genuine support and connection.

Now, I hope for even bigger. I want this initiative to continue growing, even when I’m no longer, I hope our community members will step up and take the lead to ensure its continuity. We need someone to step up—maybe that’s you! Together, we can build a lasting space where migrants find mental support, forge friendships, and connect with locals—helping everyone feel at home and succeed together.