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| Issue 08 April/May 2008 |
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SPOTLIGHT ON: Day Off Campaign
This May, UNIFEM Singapore has teamed up with local NGOs HOME and TWC2 to launch a year long campaign titled 'Day Off'. Day Off aims to encourage Singapore employers to voluntarily give their domestic workers a regular day off. Currently, only an estimated half of Singapore employers give their helpers regular days off.
A day off is critical in creating and maintaining a positive working relationship between employer and employee. It can improve morale and productivity and most importantly empower the domestic worker as an individual. And, with so much focus on the importance of a work life balance for all kinds of workers - the campaign is really only asking people to treat others as they would wish to be treated themselves.
Globally, one of UNIFEM's key programs is to empower women migrant workers, with a specific focus on domestic workers - most of whom are female. Since 2003, UNIFEM has instituted programs to support the rights of domestic worker in countries such as Jordan and Hong Kong as well as source countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka and The Philippines. The Day Off Campaign is a contribution to this global effort to improve the status and well-being of women migrant workers.
“Foreign domestic workers are productive individuals who make an extremely valuable contribution to Singaporean society," says President of UNIFEM Singapore, Ms Saleemah Ismail. " They take care of our homes and our children. And, like any other person, they deserve a day off. Time off is important for everyone's personal development, education, leisure and relaxation as well as for physical, mental and spiritual health. This can only result in a win-win situation."
"We regularly hear employers' concerns about the consequences of giving a day off. Through this campaign we hope to allay these fears and debunk the myths. Then, in time, perhaps the campaign will encourage employers to give their domestic workers a day off a week, which is still less than most would expect from their employers."
Day Off was officially launched with a Media Briefing on 29 April and has since been covered extensively in local and some international media, including The Straits Times, Lianhe ZaoBao, News Radio 938Live, Channel News Asia and ABC Radio Australia. For more information, visit www.dayoff.sg
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EVENT REPORT: UNIFEM Singapore Annual General Meeting
The UNIFEM AGM was held on Saturday 26 April at the UNIFEM office. Over 30 volunteers and friends attended the AGM and the networking BBQ dinner that followed. As this was an election year, there was a change to the Executive Committee (ExCo) of UNIFEM Singapore. We would like to acknowledge and thank our exiting EXCO members - Mr Micheal Ewing Chow, Ms Karen Ho and Ms Anthea Ong. And, we welcome the new committee for 2008-2009, Ms Saleemah Ismail (President), Ms Fadilah Ahmad (Vice President), Ms Pia Bruce (Treasurer), Ms Claudine Lim (Secretary), Ms Poornima Hatti, Ms Andria Hutchins, Ms Jacqueline Loh, Ms Sarah Mavrinac and Ms Deepa Pillai.
AGM held at the UNIFEM Office at 2 Nassim.
Volunteers and Members at the networking BBQ Dinner held after the AGM
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EVENT REPORT: Rice Drive at CJC
Another Rice Drive has been held - this time at Catholic Junior College, where a whopping 2,700 kilograms of rice was collected for HOME shelters. Conducted over a mere two days, the Rice Drive saw students and teachers pitch in to make it a resounding success. If you'd like to conduct a Rice Drive at your school or organisation, simply contact our Rice Drive Volunteer Coordinators - Augustine and Flora. It's easy! For more information on the Rice Drive, visit their blog: http://thericedrive.blogspot.com/
Check out all the rice that was collected!
 The shelter residents can barely contain their happiness as the receive the delivery of rice
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EVENT REPORT: UNIFEM School Talks
UNIFEM Singapore has held two school talks this year: on Jan 21st, to more than 450 Secondary Three students at Chung Cheng High School (Main), and on March 27th, to approximately 20 tertiary students from James Cook University. For more information, visit http://www.unifemsingapore.org.sg/node/104
Chung Cheng High School students at a UNIFEM School Talk Q & A session
conducted by volunteer presenter Ms Deepa Pillai
Ms Jasmeet Walia presenting case studies of victims of abuse
UNIFEM Singapore appreciates the support that schools provide to our School Talk Series by providing us with the opportunity to speak to students about issues facing women in our region. We invite secondary and tertiary schools to get involved in the School Talk Series 2008, and look forward to more though-provoking discussions that follow the presentations. This initiative supports our objective to raise awareness, amongst Singapore youth, of the daily challenges and struggles that many women face - be in our nation, our region or our world.
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ANNOUNCEMENT: Join the UNIFEM Singapore Group on Facebook
 UNIFEM Singapore has started a group on the popular online networking site - Facebook. The Facebook group will be used as an active forum for UNIFEM to give updates, photos and information to all group members. It will also serve as a platform for group members to share ideas, information and thoughts.
The UNIFEM Singapore Facebook group is open to everyone. To join, click here. Please note that you have to sign up for Facebook before you can join the group.
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