Her hands slightly trembling but her face resolute, Fathima, a mother of two, sat down for our interview as she will graduate from the 10-week-long YWCA Empowering Mums programme with 6 other mums today.

It is a big day for these mums as they have undergone several workshops designed to empower them and prepare them for the next step in their back-to-work journey.

We first met Fathima in August 2023 when we were delivering dry rations for our Sustenance for Families programme. Shy and speaking only in short sentences back then, Fathima now radiates confidence, a testament to the progress she’d tirelessly worked for.

You’ll be surprised at the difference in demeanour and candour. We’re proud of her confidence in communicating her thoughts and feelings. It is truly impressive!

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From ‘No, I cannot’ to ‘Yes, I can!’

As we continued our conversation, she excitedly tells us how she can ‘handle all things just by sitting down to think’ and that she now ‘knows where to find help’. Her enthusiasm is infectious! (We can’t help but break into a smile as we recall our conversation.)
 

“Come to learn. Learn about yourself and learn how to solve problems! You will become confident.”
 
– Fathima

 
What stood out were the lessons learnt and exemplified in Fathima’s life – She doesn’t let stresses or worries upset her. Instead, she works through situations in a calm and collected manner. She even told us that her daughter loves the positive change she sees. Fathima expresses that ‘every problem has a solution’. What a powerful mindset!

Fathima with her daughter


A Community of Women Empowering Women

The Empowering Mums programme brought together a group of initially unfamiliar faces, including Fathima, and Rasidah. The trainers and partners, some mothers themselves, nurtured this group into a supportive community. The lessons learned in the workshops went beyond hard skills; they included building bonds, overcoming negativity, and fostering personal growth.
 

“Push yourself to attend the workshops. Though you may feel overwhelmed by situations – whether your kids falling sick or having to attend school events, or even waking up early to attend the course. Do your best to make it because it is worth it!”
 
– Nadia

 
Nadia*, who discovered YWCA through HCSA Spin, found a community where like-minded individuals supported and related to each other. The safe space allowed them to share problems openly in a safe space. Nadia, once introverted, now beams with self-confidence. She’s learnt to speak up without fear, dress better, and face interviews with newfound assurance.

For Rasidah, this was a journey of stress management and positive change. The community helped process thoughts, and shared experiences became a source of encouragement.

Beyond the programme, Nadia and Rasidah are planning to embark on a weight loss journey together, emphasizing accountability, friendship, and mutual motivation. Their post-graduation plans include maintaining their support network together!

Rasidah

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Empowering Mums Graduation

Our mums about to enter the graduation hall!

10 weeks of introspection, learning and forging bonds have passed, leading our Empowering Mums course participants to this very moment of graduation. They have gained skills in Emotional Intelligence, Mindfulness and Financial Literacy. And best of all? They’re ready to take on more of Life’s challenges.

A sense of excitement and anticipation filled the air as these remarkable women, radiating confidence and dressed in their finest, readied themselves to step onto the stage.

Entering Peace Room with heads held high, our graduates took the stage, recounting their personal stories of struggle, resilience, and ultimate triumph.

Their speeches reverberated with passion and inspiration, holding the audience in attention.
 

“You will become confident. Believe that you can change your life!”
 
– Rasidah

 
As the last words echoed, a thunderous applause erupted, evolving into a heartfelt standing ovation—a collective acknowledgment of the courage and resilience displayed by these women. Surveying the applauding crowd, our graduates felt an overwhelming surge of pride and accomplishment washing over them.

Our Empowering Mums graduates embracing their children

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EM7 Employer’s Meet-and-Greet

The YWCA EM7 Employer’s Meet-and-Greet session was organised to help candidates find suitable employment opportunities. Established organisations like NTUC, Bata, Accor and Alexandra Hospital were among some of our partners offering flexible work arrangements, incentives, and on-the-job training to support these mums.

Employer's Meet-and-Greet

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About Empowering Mums programme

The Empowering Mums project equips back-to-work mums from low-income families with life and work skills to improve their employability from a holistic view.

The project runs free support group work and employability skills workshops over 10 weeks, culminating with a professional makeover, graduation ceremony and meet-and-greet session with potential employers.

After graduation, six monthly post-project sessions are held to further support mothers on their journey of self-driven change.

Throughout the sessions, meals, transport and childminding (for children above 2 years old) are provided to participating mothers so they can attend with a peace of mind.


The Impact of Empowering Mums programme

Giving marginalised women the tools and resources they require to advance will encourage a generation of strong, tenacious women who can guide and motivate their families and communities. It also illustrates the role the YWCA can play in empowering and supporting women in our local community.


Special Thanks

The Empowering Mum 7 programme would not have been made possible without the support from our sponsors, content and community partners. Thank you for your faithful support!

Our community partners

Partners:

manulife

Content Partners:

amplify point logoimage mission logo


Support Us

We hope to support and uplift more women into discovering their true potential and helping them find employability through our Empowering Mums project.

If this cause resonates with you and you would like to support, click here to volunteer, or click here to donate.

If you would like to contribute as a partner or sponsor future projects, please contact us at csp@ywca.org.sg.

*Names have been changed to protect privacy

Meet Mdm Jaliah – a beacon of positivity whose smile conceals a remarkable tale of resilience.  

At first glance, Mdm Jaliah’s demeanour might lead you to believe that her life is like any other. A cheerful attitude, big smiles, and a positive outlook – these are the hallmarks of a woman who has not let life’s trials dim her light. But beyond that smile lies a story of remarkable strength and perseverance, one that embodies the very essence of human determination.

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A Short Stop

Life took an unexpected turn for Mdm Jaliah during the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

As a security officer, she had been making ends meet with a modest income, allowing her to sustain her life in her rental flat. However, the persistent pain in her legs presented an obstacle that she faced with unwavering determination. She soldiered on, despite the discomfort, patrolling areas and fulfilling her duties with resilience. 

Yet, the time came when the physical demands of her job became too great a challenge as her health declined. She had to relinquish her job, leaving behind a void both financially and emotionally. 


Empowered to Start Again

For a while, Mdm Jaliah had to gingerly go downstairs to her neighbourhood food court and supermarket for necessities. Even simple trips to nearby locations became monumental tasks. She became mostly homebound, but her spirit remained unbreakable. 

A friend, touched by Mdm Jaliah’s story, reached out and connected her with Yong-En Care Centre, a partner of the YWCA. This connection led her to our Sustenance for Families programme- a lifeline designed to alleviate the financial burdens of low-income households. 

Depending on their needs, beneficiaries under the programme receive either dry rations or fresh food, such as rice, cooking oil, eggs and vegetables.  

Through this programme, Mdm Jaliah not only received essential supplies but also rediscovered her love for cooking. Mdm Jaliah cooks food from her youth, reminding her of happy memories and providing her with a healthy diet!


Looking On With Hope

With her basic needs covered, Mdm Jaliah focuses on recuperating at home and spending time with loved ones. Her family visits her as often as possible, sometimes bringing her to Singapore’s nature parks to enjoy the outdoors.  

She also looks forward to regular visits by YWCA volunteers, who check on her well-being, showering her with care and kindness. 

Precious moments like these help Mdm Jaliah look to the future with hope.


How You Can Make An Impact

Mdm Jaliah’s journey teaches us that even in the face of adversity, the human spirit can emerge stronger and brighter. Her story underscores the significance of extending a helping hand to those in need – a gesture that has the power to restore hope, rekindle dreams, and empower individuals to triumph over challenges. 

So, let’s create a world where no one is left behind, where every heart finds solace, and every stomach finds nourishment.   

#ServingHope, One Family At A Time.

Join hands with us today and contribute to our #ServingHope campaign here! 


From Zoom sessions with our beneficiaries to the unprecedented success of the YWCA Charity Carnival, here’s a look back at our year in 2022!

Thank you very much to all of our Volunteers, Corporate Partners and Guests for making a difference to our Beneficiaries with your support!

YWCA’s biggest annual children’s event – our Kids Christmas Party, was recently held on 02 December 2017. Over 50 child beneficiaries of our Meals-On-Wheels (Children), Kids’ Weekday Care and Sustenance programmes had a fun-filled and memorable time with the exciting line-up of activities planned for them.

To celebrate their achievements and growth in 2017, as well as to empower our children for the upcoming new year, we chose the theme, “Superheroes” for this year’s party. Programmes for the day included a mass wristband craft-making session, quiz and comic card segment which our children greatly enjoyed. Everyone participated in the activities with much eagerness and energy. Other fringe activities such as the photo and body paint booth were also available on-site.

YWCA’s President, Ms. Mavis Tsoi graced the event and gave out the YWCA Bursary Awards (Distinction & Merit) and Kids’ Weekday Care Awards to respective award recipients during the bursary awards presentation. We are proud of and would like to congratulate all the children for a job well done!

To spice up our traditional giveaway of Christmas wishlist gifts during the Kids Christmas Party, a special “Villain vs Captain America” appearance was arranged. With the help of “Captain America”, the children enthusiastically defeated the villain and received their Christmas presents just before the party ended.

A big thank you to everyone who has joined us for the party and special thanks to all our generous sponsors and donors who have made the event possible for our beneficiaries. We hope to see you again next year!

For more photos of the event and updates on YWCA’s upcoming activities, head on over to our Facebook page!