Befriender Support
About
Are there times where you just need a friend to talk to, or to encourage you when the going gets tough? A DOT Befriender can be your guide and companion on your back-to-work journey!
Role of a Befriender
- Positive friendship.
She’s someone who has your best interest at heart. An encouraging voice and a listening ear. - She understands your strengths and difficulties, connects you to help and resources (for e.g. classes, workshops and suitable jobs).
- She is the first point of contact when you have a question or a problem.
A Befriender is NOT
- a Social Worker and she isn’t expected to help with HDB issues or financial assistance. You will need to check with your respective FSC/SSO Social Worker for help.
- entitled to loan or give money.
- a childcare worker.
How does the program work?
- Initial face-to-face meetings.
- Follow up conversations via phone calls, messaging or in person.
For enquiries or feedback about your Befriending experience, please contact Sakshi at [email protected].
To volunteer as a Befriender, please click here.
Testimonials
"Ms Kanak, my DOT befriender has been helping me in getting financial education assistance for both my kids and myself, engaging me to learn new skills to better equip myself in my mid-life career shift and assisting me on my learning path towards women entrepreneurship. Through DOT I learn to ReLive, to push myself further beyond my comfort zone and dare to dream bigger. Thank you Ms Kanak and DOT Befrienders for all your continuous support. I am so blessed with abundance of love and gratitude."
Zaza
Mother of 2 (left) with Kanak her Befriender
"After returning to SG in 2017, I was looking for an organisation that supports low income women. Some have a very clear vision of what they aim to do and are 'easy' to support. Others have multiple issues that need to be addressed and it may take a longer period for them to sort things out. Some women just need someone to talk to. It gives me huge satisfaction when I see the difference they make in their lives and for their families. They are amazing women!"
Sue Saunders
Befriender at DOT
"Sue Saunders has helped in many ways... From emotional, to finding a job, legal talk updates, a shoulder to cry on, confidante, someone I can count on, a friend and sisterhood."
Rahayu
Mother of 1
If you’re keen to volunteer as a befriender, you can write to [email protected] to find out more!