A JOURNEY OF RESILIENCE WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY
October 12, 20222 min read
When Santi first approached us back in 2013, her family's finances were in a precarious state and were adversely affected by their inability to navigate through the various schemes that were available to them. To make matters worse, her late husband was unable to support the family due to his deteriorating health and eventual passing.
Living in Lengkok Bahru—a foreigner, and, a single mother with two children—she struggled to find employment while having to care for her young children. But with the help of her SCC social worker, Santi started working as a cleaner on a work permit, easing the restrictions of her previous visa.
She was well aware that she needed to find a way to stay in Singapore permanently in order to care for her two children who were born Singaporean citizens. With assistance from her social worker, after repeated appeal attempts to apply for her Permanent Residency, in 2017, her wish was finally granted.
In addition, she also joined the MCS FDP to be part of the savings matching scheme, which enabled her to save a decent sum in two years despite her low take home wages.
Throughout her journey, Santi was focused on providing for her children's education and development. She was determined to assist them in breaking the cycle of poverty.
Despite her demanding schedule as a working single mother, Santi also finds time to give back to her community in every way she can. She has helped to replace the light bulbs in her elderly neighbour's home and has provided them with food rations when they need it. This has helped her form strong bonds with those around her and also cultivate a strong sense of being part of Lengkok Bahru.
Santi often expresses her heartfelt appreciation for her social worker's efforts to uplift her. She appreciates the support that her social worker has provided her and her family. She has also cultivated positive habits like financial prudence, resilience, and sense of purpose.
She feels that she is now better equipped to deal with life’s obstacles and work toward a stable life for her family.
When Santi first approached us back in 2013, her family's finances were in a precarious state and were adversely affected by their inability to navigate through the various schemes that were available to them. To make matters worse, her late husband was unable to support the family due to his deteriorating health and eventual passing. 
