‘I understand what it feels like to be excluded’: SMU grad started project to befriend migrant workers
Siti Noormasliana Noorazman, a 24-year-old SMU graduate, founded Project Candela to build bridges between migrant workers and the wider community in Singapore. She started the initiative after experiencing exclusion herself and wanting to support migrant workers.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
A SMU graduate, Siti Noormasliana Noorazman, started Project Candela to befriend migrant workers and build bridges between them and the wider community in Singapore. She drew inspiration from her own experiences of exclusion and her desire to support migrant workers.
A SMU graduate started a project to befriend migrant workers and build bridges between them and the wider community in Singapore. She drew inspiration from her own experiences of exclusion and her desire to support migrant workers. The project aims to break down barriers and promote understanding between different cultures.
Analysis
A Personal Connection to Migrant Workers
Siti Noormasliana Noorazman's journey with migrant workers began when she was the only Malay employee interning at an events company in 2021. She faced insensitive jokes and microaggressions that left her feeling excluded and alone. Around the same time, news of coronavirus cases in migrant worker dormitories struck a chord with Noormasliana, who felt she could relate to the community. She felt a sense of solidarity with the migrant workers, who had been confined to the dormitories for months to curb the spread of infection.
Building Bridges Through Project Candela
Noormasliana's experience of exclusion sparked her desire to support migrant workers. She teamed up with fellow students from her co-curricular activity, Global Connect, to host Zoom chats with workers. She also enlisted the help of ItsRainingRaincoats, a Singapore charity that builds bridges between migrant workers and Singapore residents, to set up the calls. Over three Zoom sessions in the last few months of 2021, Noormasliana and her schoolmates checked in on the mental health of migrant workers and chatted about their different cultures.
Lessons from the Dorms
Noormasliana's interactions with migrant workers taught her valuable lessons about their lives and struggles. She recalled a memorable concluding session in which volunteers asked migrant workers to write down their wishes on Post-it notes. One man wrote that he wanted to go to Portugal. Noormasliana realised that migrant workers use their limited holiday leave to visit their families back home, rather than to fulfil dreams such as travelling the world. This experience made her aware of her privilege and the importance of listening to the stories of others.
A Dream to Start a Non-Profit Organisation
Noormasliana's ambition is to shift societal perceptions and promote understanding between different cultures. She hopes to start a non-profit organisation to advocate for the migrant worker community. She dreams of partnering with organisations already supporting migrant workers to further their shared goals.
Key points
- Siti Noormasliana Noorazman founded Project Candela to build bridges between migrant workers and the wider community in Singapore.
- The project aims to break down barriers and promote understanding between different cultures.
- Noormasliana drew inspiration from her own experiences of exclusion and her desire to support migrant workers.
- The project has reached around 200 migrant workers and 100 volunteers over the past six years.
- Noormasliana hopes to start a non-profit organisation to advocate for the migrant worker community.
Siti Noormasliana Noorazman's project has the potential to create a positive impact on the lives of migrant workers and the wider community in Singapore. Her initiative can help break down barriers and promote understanding between different cultures, leading to a more inclusive and harmonious society.
However, there are also potential challenges and risks associated with Noormasliana's project. For instance, the project may face resistance from some individuals or groups who may not be receptive to the idea of building connections with migrant workers. Additionally, the project may require significant resources and funding to sustain its operations and achieve its goals.
