What happened to Ramadhani?

With hopes of starting afresh with their new family, Ramadhani and her family moved to Singapore when she was 4 years old. While Ramadhani is Indonesian at birth, she considers Singapore her home. Her parents struggled against many odds through the years to provide a stable home and education for Ramadhani and her 5 siblings.

In 2022, Ramadhani graduated from secondary school and secured a place in a local polytechnic studying Early Childhood Education. As an older sister to three younger siblings, Ramadhani has always been passionate about working with young minds and helping them learn and grow. By nurturing their curiosity and knowledge, Ramadhani hopes to shape their future and instill a love for learning that will stay with them throughout their lives.

As she does not qualify for most government assistance due to her foreign status, Ramadhani’s father’s sole income as a private hire driver is insufficient to make ends meet. 

How can you help?

Ramadhani’s school fees of $6,049.40 per semester as a foreign student has made it challenging for the family financially. Without citizenship, the accumulation of outstanding school fees places Ramadhani at risk of expulsion from the school system.

Ray of Hope wishes to raise S$29,796.40 to help Ramadhani continue with her education and attain her diploma. Payment will be made directly to the school.

More about Ramadhani’s family: 

“I’ve been in Singapore since I was 4 years old. My family and friends are all here. If I don’t get to continue my education here in Singapore, I would have to leave all my loved ones behind.” Ramadhani shared with our case workers.

Ramadhani has always been passionate about her education and saw Singapore as her home where she has envisioned her future life to be. Her father, who was diagnosed with heart issues, works tirelessly as a private hire driver to support the family of 8. Her mother is currently the main caregiver to Ramadhani and her siblings.

Growing up in a two-room rental housing, Ramadhani experienced firsthand the challenges and limitations that came with living in poverty. Her father, Mr Kasrin, was working as a pest control worker before his contract was terminated due to his poor health. He was diagnosed with severe heart disease and had suffered a heart attack in February 2017, necessitating a balloon angioplasty. With three of his heart valves blocked,  he  is only fit for light duties as he tires easily and may feel faint after exertion. He now works as a private hire driver earning an average of $1,000 per month.  Ramadhani’s mother is the main caregiver of her three younger siblings who are still in primary school.

As the family is reliant on one sole income, Ramadhani understood how precarious her household’s financial stability really is. Nonetheless,  she refuses to let her circumstances define her future. Throughout her childhood, she developed a strong sense of determination and resilience, knowing that she wanted a better life for herself and her family.

Subsequently, Ramadhani secured admission in a local polytechnic and her dreams towards being an early childhood educator finally felt in reach. However, her school fees still remain as the family’s biggest hurdle. To lessen the financial burden of her parents, Ramadhani has also applied for multiple bursaries. However, her applications were mostly rejected due to her foreign status. As a result, Ramadhani is facing the heart-wrenching possibility of having to abandon her studies and family, putting an end to the bright future she so earnestly envisioned.  

Without citizenship, the accumulation of outstanding school fees places her at risk of expulsion from the school system, leaving her with limited options for employment and future social mobility. Returning to her home country may not be feasible either, as adjusting to a new educational system, which is taught in a different language, could pose a significant challenge.

Your donation will allow Ramadhani to stay in school, keep the family together and allow them to weather these difficult times while giving her parents more bandwidth to resolve underlying problems with the help of other social service organisations as they work towards a more hopeful future. After she graduates with her diploma, she hopes to start working and support her family.