In commemoration of Mother’s Day, we share Cathy’s story.

At 58, Cathy spent much of her life carrying the quiet weight of love, responsibility, and sacrifice, guided by a mother’s unwavering determination to protect her children’s future, even in the face of uncertainty.

More than three decades ago, she moved from Seoul to Singapore with her husband, where together they built a home and raised two children. Her younger son, Joon Hyeong, has special needs. From the beginning, Cathy devoted herself fully to his care, setting aside her career as a trained interior designer to become his primary caregiver and a full-time homemaker.

Five years ago, her life changed profoundly after the passing of her husband. Amid grief and the sudden weight of becoming the family’s sole provider, Cathy found herself standing at the edge of the unknown. After years away from the workforce, the future was uncertain, and the fears were real. Yet, like many mothers driven by love stronger than fear, she pressed forward.

She started a small home-based Korean food business, working tirelessly to support her children and sustain the family through a difficult season.

Then, amid hardship, something unexpected emerged.

When Joon Hyeong enrolled in a ceramics class with Art:Dis, Cathy joined him simply to support her son. What began as a mother’s act of care slowly became a turning point in her own life. Through clay, she discovered not only a creative skill, but also a renewed sense of hope and possibility.

What started as a shared activity gradually grew into a shared passion. Two years ago, despite the risks and uncertainty, Cathy made the courageous decision to close her food business and begin again from scratch with a ceramics business.

It was not an easy path. When she joined YWCA’s Hopemaker Women’s Business Accelerator (HWBA) programme in May 2025, her business was still struggling to gain traction. Monthly sales averaged about $300, and she faced ongoing challenges with pricing, budgeting, and finding the right market for her work.

Still, Cathy persevered with quiet courage.

Through mentorship, training, and an openness to learning, she slowly gained confidence and clarity. She began to better understand her customers and recognise the value of her craft, seeing her business not merely as a way to survive, but as a foundation for a more secure future.

“The programme helped me understand my target market and gain more confidence,” Cathy shared.

That shift changed everything.

Today, Cathy’s ceramics business is growing steadily, with increasing demand and new opportunities emerging. Her handcrafted pieces now provide a sustainable source of income, each one shaped with patience, resilience, and care.

Yet, the true meaning of her journey extends far beyond business success.

Cathy is building more than a livelihood. She is building a future for her son.

In a world where individuals with special needs often face barriers to meaningful employment, her work has become a space where Joon Hyeong can learn, contribute, and experience dignity through purposeful work. Together, mother and son are shaping far more than ceramics. They are shaping a life grounded in purpose, connection, and hope.

Cathy’s story is a powerful reflection of a mother’s love, one that refuses to surrender to fear or uncertainty. It is the story of a woman who kept building even when the future was unclear, and who chose courage, repeatedly, for the sake of her child.

With resilience, faith, and the support of a community that believed in her potential, Cathy transformed hardship into opportunity, creating not only a new beginning for herself, but a brighter future for the son she loves so deeply.

There are many more women like Cathy, quietly holding their families together while navigating fear, loss, and the unknown.

You can be part of their journey. 🩵💙🩷

-End-

About YWCA of Singapore

Since 1875, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Singapore has empowered women and families of all races and religions through practical support that addresses both financial pressures and socioemotional wellbeing, along with a strong community to grow and thrive in.

Guided by its core principles of Serving with Love, Embracing Change, Strengthening Communities, and Empowering Lives, YWCA focuses on enabling women from different backgrounds to better manage caregiving responsibilities, strengthen family stability, and access new opportunities for growth.

YWCA operates a hospitality-based social enterprise through YWCA Fort Canning. All net profits from the hotel are channelled towards YWCA’s community services and programmes, furthering YWCA’s social mission, alongside the support of donors and partners.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.ywca.org.sg.

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