Coming to Singapore as an expat is a great experience! There is a lot to discover and explore but things can be tough and challenging as well. They say that Singapore is an easy starting point for expats, but in reality there is so much offered, you have no idea where to start.
When you have made a compromise with your partner to give up a full-time job back home, you find yourself having much more of this “free time” to over-think than you ever had before. While your partner and kids have a schedule to follow and a routine to keep them occupied, you are faced with the problem of figuring out what to do with your free time. You are given the luxury of time, the question is, “how do you make good use of this free time?”
In these moments, it’s great to make use of your valuable time and be a part of a social organization where you can use your skills and be able to do something good for the society. These social organizations or non-profits give you the opportunity to be creative and come up with great ideas, and implement them on the spot! These non-profits will encourage you to come up with innovative ideas to help others.
Let me give you a nice example of what I have experienced.
I started living in Singapore at the beginning of this year. After reviewing alternatives to spend my time wisely, I started volunteering for HOME. HOME is a local non-profit organization that supports migrant workers who are having disputes with their employers. They offer all kinds of programs and workshops for domestic workers who are staying in the shelter they provide. Although they are being cared for, these women hardly have any activity outside their shelter. They live in the shelter for weeks or even months/ years while they wait for their cases to be resolved.
I realized that they are stuck in a difficult situation and can use some help from someone who can make things seem a little brighter for them. I was already working as a trainer for “Mom in Balance” where I teach energetic outdoor workouts for pregnant women, women who have just given birth and mothers who want to be in shape again. So a great idea was born: bringing these women to East Coast Park for workout sessions every week.
The first time we went to East Coast Park was unforgettable. It was great to see the expression on their faces when we reached the beach and they felt the wonderful breeze from the sea. At first, they felt a bit uncomfortable with the exercises but they loosened up after a couple of minutes. They were able to relax and forget their worries and problems for at least an hour.
They love the experience and that gives me a thankful and positive feeling every week!
Suzan Grootscholten
When you have made a compromise with your partner to give up a full-time job back home, you find yourself having much more of this “free time” to over-think than you ever had before. While your partner and kids have a schedule to follow and a routine to keep them occupied, you are faced with the problem of figuring out what to do with your free time. You are given the luxury of time, the question is, “how do you make good use of this free time?”
In these moments, it’s great to make use of your valuable time and be a part of a social organization where you can use your skills and be able to do something good for the society. These social organizations or non-profits give you the opportunity to be creative and come up with great ideas, and implement them on the spot! These non-profits will encourage you to come up with innovative ideas to help others.
Let me give you a nice example of what I have experienced.
I started living in Singapore at the beginning of this year. After reviewing alternatives to spend my time wisely, I started volunteering for HOME. HOME is a local non-profit organization that supports migrant workers who are having disputes with their employers. They offer all kinds of programs and workshops for domestic workers who are staying in the shelter they provide. Although they are being cared for, these women hardly have any activity outside their shelter. They live in the shelter for weeks or even months/ years while they wait for their cases to be resolved.
I realized that they are stuck in a difficult situation and can use some help from someone who can make things seem a little brighter for them. I was already working as a trainer for “Mom in Balance” where I teach energetic outdoor workouts for pregnant women, women who have just given birth and mothers who want to be in shape again. So a great idea was born: bringing these women to East Coast Park for workout sessions every week.
The first time we went to East Coast Park was unforgettable. It was great to see the expression on their faces when we reached the beach and they felt the wonderful breeze from the sea. At first, they felt a bit uncomfortable with the exercises but they loosened up after a couple of minutes. They were able to relax and forget their worries and problems for at least an hour.
They love the experience and that gives me a thankful and positive feeling every week!
Suzan Grootscholten
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