Pastoral care and our work with migrants
Foreigners - including stateless persons - do not qualify for government aided welfare such as medical, housing, legal aid, subsidies and grants. ACMI has been assisting this group of migrants by providing the following:
ACMI
Agape Village #04-01
7A Lorong 8 Toa Payoh
Singapore 319264
Office: 6801 7400 Fax: 6801 7404
Email: ACMI@Catholic.org.sg
Office Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm
NEED HELP? CALL US.
For Counselling & Assistance:
Office Hours: 6801 7400
HELPLINE: 9188 9162
- Casework which covers:
- Counselling
- Befriending through our network of migrant befrienders
- Legal aid in collaboration with the Catholic Lawyers Guild and other volunteer lawyers on pro-bono basis
- Shelter in collaboration with Good Shepherd Centre
- Financial aid where necessary
- Language and skills training via the Skills Development programme to help them upgrade themselves and to integrate themselves into the society
- Food via the Bread Basket program
- Advocacy and Public Education
ACMI
Agape Village #04-01
7A Lorong 8 Toa Payoh
Singapore 319264
Office: 6801 7400 Fax: 6801 7404
Email: ACMI@Catholic.org.sg
Office Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm
NEED HELP? CALL US.
For Counselling & Assistance:
Office Hours: 6801 7400
HELPLINE: 9188 9162
Case Management
Casework involving a foreign spouse
Our case management services include providing social/legal assistance, counselling and befriending services to migrants and stateless persons. Through our casework we also provide research data towards advocacy and awareness on migrant issues that will assist in solving the exploitation of migrants. In addition we network with Embassies, Government Offices (MOM, FSC, MCYS, etc.), NGOs and other groups that have resources to assist migrants/itinerants in their needs beyond ACMI’s capacity. These include the Catholic Lawyers Guild, Catholic Medical Guild, Good Shepherd Sisters, Clarity, Family Life Society, and others.
Employers who are facing difficulties with their foreign workers can also contact us.
Employers who are facing difficulties with their foreign workers can also contact us.
Outreach
Distribution of a ration package during a Bread Basket event
The well-establised outreach to migrant workers housed in dormitories popularly called "Bread Basket" has as its aim to reach out to foreign workers through provisions, toiletries and food which are universal necessities to ease their burden of living expenses. It is also ACMI's way of showing appreciation to these workers for their contribution to Singapore's development. Another objective is to remain in contact with these target beneficiaries to understand their needs better and introduce ACMI as a source that they can turn to for assistance/support.
On weekdays, volunteers prepare a 'Gift Pack' comprising rice, biscuits, beverage and personal toiletries which are packed in individual bags. Distribution is done on Sundays at the workers' dormitories. Since the launch in September 2010, we have packed and distributed over 8,930 Gift Packs at about 10 different dormitories located throughout the island.
On weekdays, volunteers prepare a 'Gift Pack' comprising rice, biscuits, beverage and personal toiletries which are packed in individual bags. Distribution is done on Sundays at the workers' dormitories. Since the launch in September 2010, we have packed and distributed over 8,930 Gift Packs at about 10 different dormitories located throughout the island.
Advocacy
"It is crucial to learn all we can about these phenomena of human mobility. We are particularly interested to know from you about migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons and victims of trafficking: what are the drivers or motives of flight or migration in your area? Do the authorities acknowledge that poverty, climate change, corruption, persecution or conflict can drive people to flee? ... (and) also consider people in any of the four stages of displacement: in the process of leaving their home, in transit, when arriving and seeking to integrate, and if once again returning home. In each of these perspectives, what is happening and why it is happening are of interest. Thus the Church’s responses are primarily pastoral but also concerned with structural causes and long-term change. At the same time, we are concerned about the legal and policy frameworks which govern the movements of peoples. At a summit in September 2016, the world’s leaders agreed that two Global Compacts should be developed, one regarding migrants and the other regarding refugees. These should be of great interest to all of us in the Church and, with the leadership of Pope Francis, we hope that every Diocese and Conference can be involved as effectively as possible."
- Fr. Fabio Baggio C.S. and Fr. Michael Czerny S.J., Undersecretaries, Migrants & Refugees Section, Integral Human Development, Palazzo San Calisto, Vatican City 00120
- Fr. Fabio Baggio C.S. and Fr. Michael Czerny S.J., Undersecretaries, Migrants & Refugees Section, Integral Human Development, Palazzo San Calisto, Vatican City 00120
Our programmes and activities are supported by Caritas Singapore Community Council Limited and Catholic Foundation.