Giving back

Giving back

Their children, they sink their roots here. Caregivers and homemakers like her seek fulfilling ways to give back to their adopted land. Says Ms Ramya Nageswaran, 43, writer, counsellor, social entrepreneur and mother of two: "A lot of us have made Singapore a very comfortable home for ourselves. It only seems logical that we understand the culture and people more, by engaging with the local community."

A decade ago, Ms Nageswaran set up Focus India Forum, an informal giving circle. The forum now works for local causes with organisations like Project Dignity Kitchen, Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) and the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (HOME). But for a few years after its inception, as its name suggests, the forum directed its attention solely to causes in India.

Ms Nageswaran, a new citizen, explains: "It was a small group, with less money. Initially, we started giving back in India. We then decided to give back locally, whenever a suitable occasion arose, for example, during Diwali."

This is a prioritisation process many expatriate Indian women in Singapore deal with. Given their limited time and resources - and their homeland's pressing issues - how do they balance their involvement in the two countries?

One approach, suggests Ms Gupta, is to offer time and skills here, while contributing in kind to Indian efforts.

Besides her sessions at the Wesley Seniors Activity Centre, Ms Gupta also volunteers as a board member at the Women's Initiative for Ageing Successfully (WINGS). As a past chairperson of CARE, the community service chapter of the Indian Women's Association (IWA), she oversaw efforts with TWC2, which included fund raising, pain management talks and computer classes for migrant workers. Clearly, Ms Gupta has found her volunteering niche in Singapore. But it has not been a straightforward journey.

Recalls Ms Gupta: "During an earlier stint in Singapore in the '90s, I was an expat with young kids. There was little mental or physical energy to devote to volunteering activities in the local community. So, volunteering was limited to my children's school and their activities."

This is a situation familiar to many Indian families in Singapore. And organisations like the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) recognise this.

Says SINDA's community engagement and volunteer management division director S. Devendran: "Volunteer for whatever resonates with you - as per your life circumstances."

Women with demanding caregiving responsibilities can use SINDA's ad-hoc volunteering opportunities - such as helping out at events or in the SINDA headquarters.

SINDA also offers avenues like the Home-tuition, Project Read and Literacy & Numeracy programmes, for women who can make long-term volunteering commitments. Adds Mr Devendran: "Spouses represent a cerebral reservoir of talent and expertise we should tap on, and we are doing it. A big thank you to these ladies who are giving us their time - the most wonderful resource."

As the Indian community in Singapore grows, its new members have to find ways to become a part of the country's social fabric. For many, community service is the answer. Notes Mr Devendran: "Integration is a key focus area for the community and SINDA offers opportunities for integration in the social service sector."

Volunteering not only helps understand Singaporean society better, but also its specific areas of need. Says Ms Nageswaran: "It is only when you move out of your comfort zone, that you understand the versatility and problems of the people."

Another major platform for Indian women, who wish to offer community service in the Lion City, is the IWA. Set up in 1997, the association has kept pace with the community's evolution. In 2011-2012, under Ms Subina Khaneja, it re-invented itself with a major thrust on community service, through its CARE chapter.

Says current IWA president Piu Lahiri: "We needed to give back to this wonderful country that has so generously embraced us. However many events we might have, the CARE part of IWA provides the soul of the association. It helps us integrate with Singapore and Singaporeans."

IWA's notable efforts include a long-term volunteer affiliation with the Sunshine Welfare Mission (SWAMI) Home and its elderly residents and the IWA SMU Vidya Scholarship for a deserving undergraduate student.

There are many inspiring examples of Indian women in Singapore - who find the time between juggling home and work - to give back in their individual capacities.

Ms Shikha Chatkara, 35, is married and has a full-time career in the telecom sector. But evenings and weekends often find Ms Chatkara, a permanent resident, volunteering at her neighbourhood community club. On top of helping to organise know-your-neighbour sessions, festival celebrations and other events, she is also involved in anti-litter campaigns and other civic initiatives.

Ms Sona Pandey, 30, a mother of one, is an active member of the Indian Activity Executive Committee at the Potong Pasir Community Club. Ms Pandey, a permanent resident, makes time to volunteer for CC programmes and participate in major cultural events like the Chingay and National Day parades, along with her colleagues at Grace Ladies, a business venture and club she founded. Ms Sujata Cowlagi, 39, a senior yoga teacher and mother of two, is another Indian woman who connects with the community through her pro-bono work.

Ms Cowlagi, a permanent resident who has lived on the island for seven years, counsels troubled individuals and also participates in workshops and fund raisers. She recently conducted a session "Cope with grief. Heal with Love" to help Philippine workers deal with the anxiety caused by Typhoon Haiyan. Ms Cowlagi says she believes that "the language of care and love is well understood by all".

Language. A new milieu. Personal responsibilities.

These are barriers that need not stop one from finding a cause to serve in Singapore.

Says Ms Gupta: "People get daunted by the idea of volunteering. But even a small act can go a long way.

Do not get put off by your first rejection. Buddy up with a local. Find your strength or skill or passion and volunteer in that space. It is more sustainable and gratifying.

A cause can be anywhere. When you have given your time to someone, in whatever way, you are a volunteer."

tabla@sph.com.sg

Three women's efforts

Ms Nageswaran, along with co-founders Ms Damayanti Shahani and Ms Shobha Punukollu, runs a strategic consulting and research company in the social space, called Bridgeable. While serving a six-month internship at SINDA for her master's in counselling, Ms Nageswaran came across families and individuals whose requests for financial assistance, though important, could not be met, as they did not fall within existing funding criteria.

Ms Nageswaran was especially moved by her interaction with a woman who, while recovering from a road accident, lost two of her family members unexpectedly.

The courageous woman often mentioned that visiting a temple in her hometown of Kuala Lumpur would help her heal. With the go-ahead from SINDA, Ms Nageswaran helped raise money to fulfil the woman's wish.

It was then that Ms Nageswaran, Ms Shahani and Ms Punukollu (the latter two are permanent residents), decided to use Bridgeable's skills and reach to build a fund to help families such as this, which may already be receiving assistance, but require further help for one-off needs.

Bridgeable spoke to well-off Indians who are new citizens or permanent residents here. Ms Punukollu, 45, says they saw an opportunity here "to create awareness of local issues, help people integrate better with Singapore. With awareness, people will try to do something in their own way, and be part of the country".

The efforts received a heartening response, and led to the creation of the Reachable Fund. In the short span of three weeks, Bridgeable raised $114,000 from around 46 donors. The fund was launched on Nov 19 this year with SINDA and Bridgeable signing an MOU for its disbursement.


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