As the International Migrants Day (IMD) and Christmas were approaching, Hope Initiative Alliance (HIA) launched a new movement to better serve the migrant domestic workers (MDWs) community in Singapore. The Alliance of Domestic Employees Outreach (ADEO) was launched on 12 December 2021.

Many of the MDWs had to spend this festive season separated from their families. Since the pandemic started, they have become one of the most vulnerable groups in our community. In order to provide holistic care for them, ADEO will organise various programmes in the upcoming months such as case management and counselling, health and mental wellness talks, skill developments and training, and recreational programmes such as K-pop dance classes, hair styling, and outings.

This newly launched movement, ADEO, is a continuation of HIA’s efforts to collaborate with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to care for the migrant workers in Singapore—after the distribution of over one million Care Meals and 1.2 million essential items to more than 21,000 guest workers from 300 dormitories in 2020. In recognition of these efforts, HIA won the President’s Volunteerism and Philanthropy Award 2020 in the Organisations of Good category. 

The ADEO movement is also a good testimony to the close partnership between the public, private and people sectors. Over 100 organisations, such as the Singapore Kindness Movement, Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle (IRCC) Singapore, Law Society Pro Bono Services and the Singapore International Chambers of Commerce have come together to support the initiative. HIA also initiated various activities for MDWs since 2019 and initially planned to hold an event for 3,000 MDWs during International Women’s Day in 2020. However, the plans were halted due to the pandemic restrictions.

The Minister of State for Manpower, Ms Gan Siow Huang, attended the launch of ADEO on 12 December as the Guest of Honour together with only 50 representatives of partnering agencies from the three sectors due to the safe management measures. She shared her hope that through the formation of ADEO, it will help the government to improve the outreach and support for the MDWs.

President of HIA, Reverend Ezekiel Tan shared, “It is our joy that as we commemorate the International Migrants’ Day to launch the new movement, ADEO, together with MOM and many other partners to provide more care and support for our migrant domestic workers, especially during these trying times to improve and uplift their physical and mental health, and emotional well-being. We are heartened to see so many partners willing to work with us to bring some cheer and warmth during this festive season and to appreciate their efforts, and through ADEO, we look forward to making meaningful and valuable impacts in the lives of the migrant domestic workers in Singapore. ”

Showing care and love to value the contribution of the MDWs is our small gesture to lift their spirits as we celebrate the International Migrants Day and Christmas, which is widely known as the season of giving and bringing warmth and joy to others.