“Mummy, when can we go out?”

At just 28, Syarifah is a single mother to three, aged 10, 2, and 1. Since the day her eldest son Syed was born, she’s been the family’s sole provider, working in the F&B industry for over 8 years to keep her family afloat. 

Today, she’s doing her best to earn a living through a home-based business run by a relative. But with business slowing down, she hasn’t had stable income since November 2024. 

Despite the mounting pressure, she puts her children first: “I prioritise my children’s food first. Even if I don’t eat, their needs are much more important.” 

Between Motherhood and Mental Health

The emotional weight of parenting 3 young ones (with 2 still in diapers) without consistent support, is something only a few can truly understand. 

Syarifah experiences low self-esteem and anxiety, often breaking down under the pressure and feeling disappointed that she is not the mother her children deserve. “It affects my mental health, but I have to go on because of the kids.” 

Though she has joint custody, her ex-husband does not consistently take the children over the weekends, leaving her with full caregiving responsibilities. Her two younger children, Rafy and Syifa, also have weak immune systems and fall sick often, making childcare unpredictable and leaving Syarifah with few viable job options. 

Still, she shows up everyday. “It’s not easy to cope with 2 small kids.. But my kids keep me going. I have high hopes for them”. 

Trying to Move Forward, One Step At a Time

Syarifah is determined to change her circumstances. When we met her, she was actively seeking employment, exploring training opportunities, and engaging with support services. But, caregiving demands and financial stress continue to stand in her way. 

Hoping to upskill, she has explored healthcare-related courses, but the high fees (up to $4,000) have made it difficult. Undeterred, she plans to apply for a subsidized Patient Service Associate training and job-matching program in July. In the meantime, she remains committed to finding employment and hopes to secure a job within the next six months.

How You Can Make A Difference 

Ray of Hope is fundraising $4,800 to support the family’s grocery expenses for 6 months. 

The additional $800 a month will give Syarifah the mental bandwidth and peace of mind to focus on job-seeking and upskilling without the daily anxiety of putting food on the table. 

Her hope is simple. Syarifah shares, “All I want is to buy a house for myself. Somewhere my kids and I can call home so we can be better and have a better life”. Every contribution, no matter the size, will help Syarifah and her babies take one step closer to that future. 

Let’s give this young mother the support she needs to keep going, keep growing, and keep believing that a better life is still possible.