Bags to the Future

Prepping Low-Income Students for the School Year

Rising inflation and the reopening of physical services post-lockdown have led to an increase in household expenses.

Parents are doing all they can to provide for the best for their children - especially for those in the low-income brackets, who are overcoming many more hurdles.

Last month, we met one strong-willed mom, and her story touched us.

Mdm Liza is a 40-year-old Indonesian who is currently residing in Ang Mo Kio with her family. In her household, there are 10 of them living in a small HDB 3-room flat - her husband and 8 children, 2 of which are her stepchildren. Her children are between the ages of 4 and 21, and are all currently studying.

Unfortunately, Mdm Liza is unable to secure a job due to her being on long-term pass, hence her husband is the current sole breadwinner of the family. Even then, he is unable to earn much as a shop assistant in Kranji because his working hours are not fixed.

For the family, their biggest expenditure are groceries and baby essentials such as diapers and milk powder.

“These items (the milk powder and baby diapers) that we received monthly have helped me tremendously. Especially milk powder, they’re so expensive. When I gave my youngest child, Edra, a cheaper milk powder brand, he was hospitalized at KKH for two days. So I had to give him a different milk powder.”

Mdm Liza also shares how she cooks daily for her family. Even then, it costs her $45 every day. If the family eats out, an estimated $70 is spent for the meal.

With their finances getting tight, it is a bigger headache for families like Mdm Liza when the new school year approaches.

“We’re not sure if they can qualify for the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS),” Mdm Liza said about her child who is just about to enter Primary School next year.

Mdm Liza shared her concerns of getting sufficient and quality school materials for her children, and we could not have visited at a better time.

Global Ehsan Relief Singapore will be carrying out our Back to School 2022 programme in December, where we will be providing families like Mdm Liza with essential school materials for their children.

Last year in 2021, we benefitted a total of 450 students by providing them with school essentials. This year, we hope to provide back-to-school essentials to more students across Singapore. By providing financial assistance to fund their education, you will enable these children to pursue their biggest dreams, as well as lessen the financial strain of the family.