Some days, Lakshimi barely has time to breathe, much less rest. Still, she’s moving. Still trying.

 “I cannot give up, I’m doing everything I can.” – Lakshimi, mother of two 

A Mother Doing All She Can

Lakshimi is a single mother to two bright and growing boys—Aaron and Leon. They’ve been through more than any family should.

A few years ago, Lakshimi made the painful but brave decision to leave a marriage fraught with conflict and mistreatment. She and her sons had lived through repeated trauma. 

“After leaving the abusive marriage,” she says, “I can be totally free and start afresh with my children.” 

As captured in the featured photo, which Lakshimi took to remind herself how far she has come, Lakshimi is determined to rebuild a safe, stable life for herself and her children. Unfortunately, Aaron had a difficult time recovering from the emotional trauma of domestic violence. Since mid-2023, he’s been under psychiatric care. With regular therapy and improved stability at home, he is slowly finding his footing again and doing better in school.

Leon, the younger of the two, was born with kidney issues. He needs regular scans to monitor his condition. On top of their needs, Lakshimi herself lives with severe eczema both on her face and all over her body that causes intense pain. “It (the rash) became blisters, and then skin lesions, and sometimes, I can’t even walk because of the pain.” The eczema on her face has left behind scars, flaky skin and hyperpigmentation.

Juggling Work, School, and Caregiving

Since her last job contract ended in March 2025, Lakshimi has been looking for full-time work. In the meantime, she takes on part-time jobs through a job-on-demand app. She is also enrolled in a part-time diploma course in Applied Management at Future Workplace at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, trying to position herself for better, more sustainable employment.

This isn’t just about a job for her. It’s about long-term security for her family. “I cannot give up,” she says. “I’m doing everything I can.”

But doing everything has come at a cost. With no family support system and two boys who need regular caregiving, she’s stretched thin. 

Why She Needs a Helper

To hold it all together, school, work, medical appointments, and caregiving, Lakshimi has engaged a live-in domestic helper. 

Having a helper is not a luxury for Lakshimi. It is essential.

Her helper is her lifeline. During Lakshimi’s work and study hours, her helper executes the boys’ day-to-day routines. She brings Aaron for his biweekly therapy sessions. She also ferries both children to and from school, and for their subsidised tuition classes 2–3 times a week.

Having a helper also gives Lakshimi the peace of mind and time to explore full-time employment so that she can provide a stable life for her family in the long run. By taking on the housework and preparing meals, the helper also enables Lakshimi to channel that energy and time into being emotionally present for her children when she is at home with them.

The total cost of the helper (including salary, levy, and expenses) comes to about $750 monthly. Lakshimi is committed to co-paying, but she is currently short of $450 per month.

A Window of Opportunity And a Ticking Clock

If Lakshimi can’t continue paying her helper, she risks losing the one thing holding her fragile routine together. Without help, she may have to drop out of school, decline part-time jobs, or leave her boys at home unattended—all choices she desperately wants to avoid.

This campaign is to raise $2,700, which will provide $450/month for 6 months. This partial subsidy will allow her to keep her helper while she continues to study and gain full-time employment.

What Your Donation Will Cover

Your support will go directly toward:

• $2,700 total (6 months x $450/month)
  • Partial salary support for Lakshimi’s domestic helper
  • Indirectly supporting Aaron’s therapy and both boys’ access to tuition by providing Lakshimi with financial access to continue having a helper that can bring the boys for their appointments

Lakshimi is covering the remaining costs herself through her part-time earnings.

A Small Gift, A Big Lifeline

Lakshimi has done everything within her power. She is studying, working, parenting and recovering emotionally. What she needs now is a little breathing room, just enough help to keep her moving forward.

“I’m doing everything I can,” she says. 

“But I can’t do it alone… Help us feel the warmth and hope that comes from community and kindness.”