A home is more than a roof over our heads. It is a place where we find comfort, safety and warmth.
However, not everyone gets that privilege. To women and children suffering from domestic violence, home is a source of danger. It is not where the heart is but where the hurt begins.
Minister of State and Punggol West SMC MP Sun Xueling, a long-time advocate of women’s rights, recognises that.
In fact, she has been one of the most passionate voices supporting the victims of domestic violence in our community.
Supporting victims of domestic violence
Source: Casa Raudha Home for Women
Punggol West Project Fresh Start is dedicated to helping women and children in crisis shelters. This is the third time Punggol West is doing so, said MOS Sun.
In Asian culture, there is still an element of shame surrounding domestic violence, which can prevent women from reaching out to friends and family for help.
That is why crisis shelters such as Casa Raudha Home for Women, Star Shelter, Anglican Family Centre, and Good Shepherd Centre are a lifeline to those escaping violence and helping them with a fresh start in life.
In her Facebook post, MOS Sun shared that grassroots members and volunteers in Punggol West are now seeking in-kind donations such as bedsheets, bath towels, utensils, and school shoes and stationaries for children at these shelters.
You can click here for a list of items required.
To many of us, these items might seem inconsequential.
But for the women and children living in temporary accommodations, they are the things that can evoke feelings of warmth in their makeshift homes.
If you are inspired to help, you can drop off your donations at the multi-storey car park void deck of Blk 222, Sumang Lane, between 1 pm to 5 pm on Feb 11, 2023 (Sat).
Eradicating violence and building stronger families
Strong families are the foundation of a stable and harmonious society, and building strong and resilient families has always been a priority for the Government from the get-go.
In recent years, there has been more focus on tackling the issue of family violence as a community and breaking the intergenerational cycles of violence for good.
Along with the ongoing Break the Silence (BTS) Campaign to raise awareness and strengthen societal attitudes against violence, there is also a National Anti-Violence and Sexual Harassment Helpline (NAVH) and a specialist centre to make it easier for victims to seek help and receive support to recover from their trauma.
Crucially, the PAP Government presented the White Paper on Singapore Women’s Development to Parliament last year and it was subsequently passed.
The White Paper called for a whole-of-society mindset shift and approach, and also laid out 25 action plans, such as greater protection against violence and harm, that will help build a fairer and more inclusive Singapore.
The Party has always recognised and fought for the equal treatment of women. As Founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew famously said: “Societies which do not educate and use half their potential because they are women, are those which will be the worse off.”
Together, we can all look out for one another and do our part to help victims of violence.
Cover Photo Credit: Sun Xueling/Facebook