Two years ago, my goggles foggy from tears and my face etched deep with the N95 mask from serving at the COVID-19 migrant workers facilities, I remember penning a news commentary-
“More than a time to deal with the virus, perhaps it is also a time to deal with our hearts. Let’s not waste this great opportunity to rewrite the Singapore narrative with genuine contrition, deep compassion and great love.”
With grief, I’d watched a sunset bleeding into our Singapore skyline, pondering the injustices we let go unnoticed, beneath our harried lives.
I wondered if our race to normalcy would stumble us further.
But two years on, things are different.
“Good to see you, Wai Jia.”
I’m stunned the Minister knows my name. I look around, and familiar faces from the outbreak surround me.
With a series of stakeholder dialogues held by the government all planned out on a regular basis, I see our leaders’ genuine, concerted efforts for us to forge a better future for vulnerable communities.
As they led me through the new migrant worker gallery built to remember our migrant worker heroes, detailing the advances made to their welfare, I thought to myself, “We are rewriting history, together.”❤️
We might not be perfect, but we are making progress.
As we turn a year older as a nation together soon, may our many lives be joined with one aspiration- that of a better future, together. ❤️
*If you feel led to sow into our migrant worker community, feel free to drop a note at www.mybrother.sg. We’re now opening partnerships with schools to bridge gaps and build bonds between youth and our migrant worker heroes 💪🏾