by Soroptimist International President, Yvonne Simpson

“There are two active Soroptimist
clubs in Singapore and I was fortunate to spend quality time with both. On
Saturday 23 April I joined Soroptimists from SI Singapore and visited its
project supporting the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics
(Home). The law states that workers coming to Singapore must be over the age of
23. Young Myanmar women are brought in illegally to work as maids and
housekeepers. Their only means of support and accommodation is with the
employer and when things go wrong – when they are verbally, physically or
sexually abused –  they have few choices.
Some run away to the ‘Home’. Others are referred there by police while they
prosecute the employers. The ‘Home’ provides shelter and training in cooking,
baking, dressmaking and cosmetology. It is a haven run by Sisi Sukiato,
Director of Administration.

 

Picture: Dancers at ‘Home’

 

Picture: Standing: Thavamani Prem Kumar
and Prem Kumari Parampathy. Seated: Leynette Catherine Rasiah, Yvonne Simpson, Lucia Rasiah

The Soroptimists provide soil and
seeds for their gardening project. The girls learn to grow vegetables and have
a small garden on the roof of the building. I visited with Sibel Cinar Kurkcu.
Thavamani Prem Kumar, Maria Boey Yut Mei, who is also the SISWP National
Representative for Singapore.  Maria
provided bright red T shirts and sun hats, which were appreciated by the girls
who often arrive with very little.

 

Picture: The roof  garden project. Sibel Cinar Kurkcu (4th from
left), Yvonne Simpson and  Maria in centre (Maria
Boey Yut Mei), Thavamani Prem Kumar (3^rd from right), Sisi Sukiato
second from right

I was then privileged to learn
about Peranakan – a blend of two cultures where intermarriage occurred between
Chinese and Malays. They developed their own distinct food and customs. In the
afternoon – we gathered at SI Singapore’s office where I shared what was
happening on the SI scene at the international level. I spoke in particular
about Advocacy and the President’s Appeal.

 

Picture: SI President Yvonne Simpson with Elsie Yu Chen Chee, SI Garden City, together with her latest concept drawings for a
sculpture to celebrate hydrology

In the evening I joined SI Garden
City members for a Japanese vegetarian meal meeting with Elsie Yu Chen Chee, Alicia
Ah Moy Tong, Satal Kaur Narula, known as Nehar, Linda Gan, Susie Wong, Chooi
Peng Leong, Joanne Chan and Joyce Lim Siok Ching. 

We discussed informally the
Soroptimist world. I was delighted to learn that they are working successfully
to charter a Mandarin speaking club. Joyce and the extension team are very
excited about the prospect.  Joyce’s
daughter, Tan Yan Ru, was one of five young women who addressed the Convention in
Turkey. She was sponsored by the Federation of the South West Pacific as a
young speaker and is now actively helping her mother to foster a new club.

 

Picture: Back row: Satal Kaur Narula, known
as Nehar, Joyce Lim Siok Ching, Susie Wong, Joanne Chan, Linda Gan and Elsie Yu
Chen Chee. Front Row: Chooi Peng Leong, me, Alicia Ah Moy Tong ( Alicia came in
as SISWP National Representative in Sydney).

The lesson here, I think, is to
introduce young women to the Soroptimist experience.  Open the doors to the possibilities – they
will then lead. Truly an ‘Educate to Lead’ experience. My congratulations to
International Past President Ann Garvie and her dream to hold a public speaking
section within the Convention programme.

I spent Sunday 24 April with Prem
Kumari Parampathy, Thavamani Prem Kumar, Lucia Rasiah and Leynette Catherine
Rasiahfour; four warm Soroptimists from SI Singapore. We enjoyed ‘high tea’ and
it was lovely – a touch of luxury and relaxation. At 5pm Maria Boey picked me
up from our hotel and we visited the fantastic ‘Gardens by The Bay’.
Singapore’s active and innovative approach to working with water is inspiring.
Areas that used to flood are now stable. New recreation areas are created for
the intensely populated city and access is free. The colourful man-made ‘trees’
are testament to the wonders of technology. It was particularly wonderful to
see Soroptimist member Elsie’s ‘Dragonfly Riders’ – stainless steel sculptors
in the lake.

 

Picture: SI President Yvonne Simpson with the ‘Dragonfly Riders’. Click HERE for more information.

It was a full-on two days of
learning, sharing, celebrating and re energising and I thank my Singaporean
Soroptimist sisters for their hospitality, warmth and care.

The Soroptimist International
theme is ‘Educate to Lead’. I find the more contact I have with Soroptimists at
the grassroots level, the more I learn, and understand the circumstances that
challenge them –  the climate, laws,
culture, geography and personalities. Life is an educational journey – and
sometimes we have to get out into the field to learn. It is a privilege and a
responsibility to have access to such learning. The right to learn adds to the
responsibility to use that learning in leadership".

 Read a recent blog by SIS on the ‘Home’ Project HERE