Sri (17) and Shini (14) have grown up in Singapore their entire lives. Now they risk being barred from school due to three months of unpaid school fees.

A Business that Failed

As PRs, Mdm Jaya and her husband took a leap of faith and started their own construction business while raising their daughters. For a while, it seemed possible. Then customers stopped paying for completed work.

Mdm Jaya took personal loans in her own name to cover costs, believing she could recover the payments and hold things together. But the debts kept growing, and the business couldn’t survive.

Managing Alone for the last 8 Months

After the closure, her husband tried starting over with a new venture that hasn’t brought in income yet. The financial pressure tore the family apart. He moved out about 7 months ago and can no longer support them.

Mdm Jaya now shoulders every responsibility as the sole breadwinner of the family.

She’s approached social service agencies, but as a PR, the family doesn’t qualify for financial assistance. To cope, she’s borrowed from friends just to keep up with loan repayments—knowing these debts will also need to be returned. 

“I am alone in this struggle,” she says. “I have no one else to turn to for help.”

Three Months of Unpaid School Fees

With Mdm Jaya’s current salary, the family continues to struggle with school fees ($1487/monthly) and loan servicing. Despite the circumstances, both girls keep showing up to class, holding on to their friends and studies.

How You Can Help

This campaign raises $7,435 to keep Sri and Shin in school: 

1. 3 months of school arrears: $4461
2. 2 months of school fees: $2974 

“It’s not for me,” she says. “It’s for my children”

*The campaign goal includes a 1.8% payment processing fee.