Campaign Story

What is Project Providence?

Project Providence is a temporary Covid-19 crisis response initiative. We were set up on 7 April 2020 to support the needs of guest workers living outside the 43 Purpose Built Dormitories, 1,200 Factory Converted Dormitories and numerous other Temporary Construction Quarters. 

Project Providence collaborates with Singapore Government agencies, Migrant Workers’ Centre, SG Accident Help Centre, Homeless Hearts of Singapore, HealthServe, Mercy Centre, Hope Initiative Alliance- AGWO, various churches and partner organisations. We work with our partners to provide safe sleeping spaces and nourishing meals for guest workers in need during this Covid19 period. Guest workers are able to reach us through our partner NGOs, MOM hotline and our privately run helpline.

Project Providence also matches Singaporean resident befrienders with guest workers who need emotional support and friendship. Project Providence will also work with the embassies and high commissions of these guest workers to repatriate them if they so wish.  

Are you a guest worker or know of one who needs help? Please call our helpline 87177559 now. (Operating Hours: 9am – 9pm)

Why does Project Providence exist?

Job or income loss from the COVID-19 pandemic can alter our realities in a flash. In trying to limit the economic fallout from the shuttered economy, the government has proactively put in place a slew of measures, initially through the Unity Budget 2020 and later through the Resilience and Solidarity budgets, mostly targeted at residents. 

In parallel, the Singapore Government, together with NGOs such as the Migrant Workers Council, Covid-19 Migrant Support Coalition, HealthServe and Hope Initiative Alliance, has reached out to feed and provide for the needs of foreign guest workers housed in the 43 PBDs and 1,200 FCDs. 

Project Providence is the next tier social safety net for our guest workers. We provide emergency assistance to guest workers, living outside the dormitories, who are at immediate risk of losing shelter due to an inability to pay their rents. The team also works with partners such as the Foodbank to feed guest workers who do not have enough to eat due to a lack of income. 

Many of these guest workers could be our neighbours. Many have sent their money home, and because of the Circuit Breaker disrupting their incomes, do not have enough to feed themselves here in Singapore. 

We do not believe that anyone should go without food or shelter in Singapore. We believe that in Singapore, all our guests are welcome, loved and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. 

What are we raising funds for?

We aim to raise $300,000 to support 250 of the neediest guest workers, who fit our assessment criteria, for 2 months. The team is scaling up operations for increased capacity to take on a projection of about 1% of 197,800* (2,000) S pass holders in Singapore.

As required, Project Providence might seek to raise additional funds to meet the needs of an increasing number of guest workers in our care.

*statistics taken from MOM’s June 2019 work permit numbers.  

Project Providence will be using the funds to pay for or provide immediate shelter, meals, transport & basic necessities for our guest worker friends who have limited to no access to these resources. 

The monthly budget consists of $400 for rent and $200 for food and other basic necessities. All guest workers assisted by Project Providence will also be connected with one of our trained befrienders who will assist in their emotional, mental and spiritual growth during this period of time. 

Donations of all amounts are welcome, here are the different ways your donation will help our guest workers:

1. For subsistence: $200
2. For rent: $400
3. I would like my $600 to cover both rent and subsistence
4. To sponsor a family: $1000

100% of the funds raised through Ray of Hope’s online campaign will be used to pay for immediate shelter, rent, food, transport or daily living needs of our guest workers.

In any crisis, we believe that a strong Singaporean community is the correct response for our guests and guest workers. Our volunteer befrienders and core team will not draw down from this account to defray any of the operational costs and expenses of providing for our guest worker friends. Please note that we do not draw any salaries from the project. 

Where do I find updates?

Project Providence will be sending email and WhatsApp updates to our partners and friends. To subscribe, please drop us an email at project.providence.2020@gmail.com 

Thank you for your partnership! 

The Project Providence Team

“Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”  Matthew 25:40

To learn more about our team and partners, please go to our website: projectprovidence.sg  

About Ray of Hope

100% of your donations to Ray of Hope go to people in need. We do not take a cut from the funds. We even cover 3rd party credit card charges that other crowdfunding platforms deduct from your donation for campaigns.

100% of all campaigns are also fully verified, so you know your funds go to real people with real needs.

We take donor accountability very seriously – with yearly audited accounts and strong governance in place to ensure that your donations are properly channeled to the beneficiaries.

Ray of Hope is a registered charity and a member of the National Council of Social Services.

About the Campaign

Project Providence has already raised around $18k which has assisted 30 guests since 9 April 2020. Ray of Hope has verified with Alex the purpose of the fundraising and how the funds will be used.

FAQs

Our initiative

Q: Who is Project Providence aimed at helping?

A: Project Providence is aimed at helping foreign guest workers who have no income because they have been furloughed during the COVID-19 outbreak. More than that, we assist guest workers who are not residing in one of the 43 purpose-built dormitories or 1200 factory-converted dormitories, whom the government has aid schemes for. 

Q: Why do these guest workers require financial assistance?

These guest workers require financial assistance to pay for food and shelter through the time they have been temporarily laid off. They require temporary emergency support during the Covid-19 crisis. 

Q: What is the estimated population of Project Providence’s target group?

A: The population ranges from 120,000 to 300,000 persons.

Q: What assistance is Project Providence (PP) providing to the guest workers?

A: Per eligible guest worker, PP will disburse up to $600 ($400 for shelter and $200 for food). In addition, we will pair the guest worker with a “befriender” volunteer, facilitating connections in our society. 

Q: What jobs did the guest workers hold prior to the outbreak?

A: They worked in eateries, restaurants and hotels, beauty salons and parlors, sales counters, front desks, etc.

Housing Questions

Q: How does PP intend to help in terms of shelter?

A: PP’s protocol dictates that affected guest workers should stay in their current shelter, with PP stepping in to defray the cost of rent. In exceptional situations where this is not tenable, we help to rehome them in partner hotels and hostels.

Volunteer Questions

Q: How do I apply to become a volunteer?

A: Access and complete https://forms.gle/kh6nyJWDUHcRJqPTA; alternatively, visit and complete https://www.projectprovidence.sg/volunteer.

Donor Questions

Q: Is my donation eligible for tax relief?

A:). As PP is a grounds-up initiative and Ray of Hope is a registered charity, but not of IPC status, your donations are not eligible for tax relief.

Q: Is my donation refundable?

A: Please note that all donations made are non-refundable.

Q: How can I give to Project Providence?

A: You can give via:

1. Credit Card to the Ray of Hope;
2. Direct transfer to “Ray of Hope” (DBS Bank account 072-007189-1), please indicate Project Providence in the remarks section and take a screenshot and send it to project.providence.2020@gmail.com; or
3. Cheques by dropping them off at DBS Bank.

Cheques should be made out to “The Ray of Hope Initiative Limited”, On the back please indicate “Project Providence”, and the bank account number 072-007189-1 with your contact number and email. Do remember to take a photo of the front and back of the cheque first and send it to 87177559 or project.providence.2020@gmail.com so that Ray of Hope can verify the payee name is correct.

Please write the payee name in full as a lot of cheque donors miss out on some parts of our name or write Limited as Ltd.

Q: What happens when the target amount of donations is reached?

A: We will close the donations campaign or if more workers require assistance, will seek approval to raise additional funds to support them.

Q: How do I contact Project Providence personnel?

A: Please email project.providence.2020@gmail.com. If you are a guest worker or know of one who needs help, please call our helpline at 87177559 now. (Operating Hours: 9am – 9pm)

Q: Is it safe to donate on Ray of Hope?

A: Yes, Ray of Hope is a registered charity under NCSS and 100% of the proceeds go to the beneficiaries with complete accountability.