A Father Carrying Many Responsibilities

Mr Ahmad (not his real name) was transferred to Singapore 3 years ago on an overseas deployment by his company. A year after he started his role, he brought his wife and two young children over so the family could finally live together again. Mr Ahmad describes himself as a family-oriented father who works hard so his children can have more opportunities than he did. 

As the sole breadwinner for a family of four in Singapore and his parents overseas, Mr Ahmad’s income is stretched across many responsibilities. Between high rental costs in Singapore, daily living expenses and sending financial support to his parents back home, there is no safety net left.

At home, life is centered around his wife and their two children. Their eldest is 5 years old, an age where school and friendships are becoming important parts of daily life. As non-residents, his children also face higher education fees, which adds another layer of difficulty to school enrolment decisions.

He shares simply, “my son always asked when can i go to school, i dont have friends.”

Preparing for School, Learning at Home

For now, home-schooling cannot replace the socialization a 5-year-old desperately needs. As the gap widened between him and other children in the neighborhood, his son began expressing deep sadness about being left behind. Watching his child look out the window, wanting nothing more than to go to school and make friends, has been the heaviest burden for Mr Ahmad to bear. 

Still, Mr Ahmad sees the gap growing as other children begin school and form friendships. His son has expressed sadness about not being able to attend school, something that has been difficult for him as a father to respond to.

What This Support Will Mean for the Family

While his son has now successfully enrolled in K1, the monthly fees remain difficult for the family to sustain.

The school fees are approximately $800 per month. The support being sought will go toward three months of school fees, amounting to a total of $2400, to help his son continue attending school consistently while Mr Ahmad works towards stabilising the family’s finances independently.

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