Daughters Of Tomorrow continues to empower low-income women through place-and-train programme due to high demands for caregivers in the Eldercare sector.
Singapore, 12 April 2021 – More than 80 low-income women will undergo a train-and-place programme by local IPC charity, Daughters Of Tomorrow (DOT), to serve the growing demands for eldercare centres in Singapore. The two-year Eldercare Programme jointly funded by the Community Foundation of Singapore, Ishk Tolaram Foundation and Kewal Ramani Foundation will focus on upskilling women from families that earn less than $650 per capita per month for caregiving work.
“In 2016, DOT identified the huge shortage of local manpower in the eldercare sector and at the same time, observed many low-income women to be natural caregivers due to their experience of caring for family members. We are grateful for this continuation of support which is timely as the effects of COVID-19 have further exacerbated the financial instability of disadvantaged groups. Hence it is crucial for us to continue to train and place women into this sector in order for them to build a stronger financial safety net while catering to the needs of Singapore’s ageing population,” said Fannie Lim, Executive Director of DOT.
Singapore’s eldercare industry is a fast-growing sector due to its rapidly ageing population. According to the Department of Statistics, the proportion of Singaporeans 65 and above is expected to increase to about 23.7% by the year 2030, while the proportion of those aged 80 and above has also almost doubled over the last decade [1].
DOT will provide a basic Community Eldercare Workshop where interested candidates will learn more about working in the Singapore healthcare industry and the common conditions associated with the elderly. Participants will be provided with childminding services throughout the trainings to allow greater accessibility for mothers who wish to upgrade their skills. They will then go through a Caregiver Training Workshop from an Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) certified training centre to learn hands-on skills needed to assist elderly persons in their Activities of Daily Living. Through this programme, more women will have better access to sustainable livelihood opportunities and as a result, be able to provide for their families.
Caregiver Asia is one such AIC-certified training centre that DOT will be working with to train low-income women to enter the sector. The company provides interactive blended learning for entrants into the Eldercare and Childcare sectors.
[1] Statistics from Population in Brief 2020
https://www.strategygroup.gov.sg/files/media-centre/publications/population-in-brief-2020.pdf
Mr. Raymond Lai, who has been providing training for Eldercare candidates since 2016, when asked how the low-income women were faring in this program and what more can be done for this sector shares, “The government have injected many subsidies to encourage people to work in the industry, and (career) advancements are accelerated. It will no longer be based on academic qualifications alone but rather more on ability and capability. With such initiatives, the number of people entering the industry is expected to grow as the population ages. DOT women who have embarked on this eldercare journey have a strong and steadfast ability to manage and handle elderlies of many kinds (and that) has impressed and touched me greatly, and I salute them from the bottom of my heart.”
A representative from R&R Graceland Fund, who donated towards this initiative through the Community Foundation of Singapore, shared, “Personally, I am very passionate about supporting low-income women who would otherwise not be able to bring resilience and sustainability to their workplace. Sometimes what they need to succeed in life are trust and a helping hand. I am supporting the Eldercare Train and Place programme as it not only provides relevant skill training to the women but also because these skills allow them to gain employment whilst filling up a gap in Singapore’s eldercare sector. I hope to continue to support Daughters Of Tomorrow in the work they do”
Ang Siew Sien, the Residential Care Associate of Vanguard Healthcare, was initially unsure of working in this industry. She figured her low qualifications and job requirements would prevent her from being considered. Because of this initiative, she was given the opportunity to undergo training and now working in this role for four months. She adds that the knowledge at work is relevant and can be used with family elders back home. Siew Sien wants to continue to develop herself at work and carve a career out of caregiving.