Volunteer groups distribute food, gifts to migrant workers confined in dorms to spread Hari Raya cheer

SINGAPORE — Several social service organisations have banded together to spread some festive cheer to low-wage foreign workers confined in dormitories during this year’s Hari Raya Puasa celebrations. 

Volunteers from the Alliance of Guest Workers Outreach (AGWO) distributed festive meals and sarongs to about 2,600 of these workers living in 30 dormitories across the island. 

In a media release on Thursday (May 13), an alliance of social welfare organisations, civic groups and companies called the Hope Initiative Alliance, which started the outreach programme, said that this year’s drop-offs were done in a contactless manner due to safe distancing requirements to curb the Covid-19 pandemic. 

It also had to make timely reports to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on the details of each drop-off to ensure that the required permits were granted before distributing the gifts. 

On Thursday, AGWO partnered with the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, also known as Muis, to arrange for the residents living in a dormitory along Tuas View Square to meet its deputy mufti, Ustaz Mohammad Hannan Hassan, who prayed for the safety, health and well-being of the workers. 

Dr Hannan also thanked the workers for standing strong and united with fellow Singaporeans in the face of the pandemic and told them that they are not alone in this journey. 

Before Hari Raya Puasa, Hope Initiative Alliance said that AGWO also helped to deliver festive meals and gifts to 14 other dormitories, so as to spread some festive cheer to the workers who are still mostly confined in their residences. 

Mr Ezekiel Tan, president of Hope Initiative Alliance, said: “We are glad to be able to partner MOM to celebrate Hari Raya Puasa with our guest worker brothers. Many are homesick and also miss gathering with their friends in Singapore owing to the pandemic measures that have been in place for more than a year. 

“We hope that today’s gesture of care towards them brings them some much-needed cheer amid the gloom.”