The Cuff Road Project
Local groups come together to provide food assistance for stranded South Indian migrant workers in distress.
Jobless and short of cash after being 'duped by agents', 50 workers from India have made the streets their home. The Straits Times covered the story on March 18th, click here for the full story.
We have begun providing breakfast starting at 7am daily from Monday - Friday at Sutha's Restaurant on Cuff Road. Our philosophy is that no one in need should be turned away. The breakfast consists of idly or dosai plus coffee/tea. The men have a choice of eating in the restaurant or getting take-away. So far, most have chosen to eat in the restaurant, though many take their coffee to go. We have been serving 70-80 men a day. Participants are asked to show a Special Pass (a govt-issued document, which means they do not have a work permit) or evidence that they are injured / have a case pending (a letter from a doctor/lawyer plus a work permit). The restaurant and volunteers are keeping a log of those served. We are currently paying S$2 per person per meal.
TWC2 has agreed to administer the funds. To make a donation, please make cheques payable "Transient Workers Count Too" and write "for the Cuff Road Project" on the back of the cheque. TWC2's postal address is:
Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2)
5001 Beach Road
Golden Mile Complex
#06-27, Singapore 199588
Recently, My Paper a local free newspaper written in Mandarin and English published an article on the Breakfast Program. Check it out here!
Recently, we've expanded the program to include a one-time dinner packet for the men at Cuff Road. On Mondays, we give out coupons and this allows them a packet meal at Chennai Arya (Campbell Lane), on Wednesdays.
Apart from providing the free meals, we have sent a note to the Indian High Commission and also to charity groups in India. We have garnered much media coverage on the stories of the men as well. We feel this is important in order to share the stories and hope it will resonate deeply with the rest of the world.
The men at Cuff Road have had the opportunity to share their stories, the following are some.
1) BBC Business, May 1st 2008
Ayyavoo Thuniayar, shares his struggle to survive since attaining injuries at his workplace.
2) The New Paper, May 10th 2008
Elamurugan Chellan, contracted soil disease that caused his toes to drop off one by one.
3) The New Paper, May 25th 2008
Durai Raj brings to us his story of working as a stock market analyst in India before coming to Singapore as a construction worker.
4) The New Paper, May 28th 2008
Owner of Sutha's where the breakfast program began was interviewed and gave his insights.
5) Lianhe Zaobao, June 2nd 2008
Food-giving programmes in Singapore, the Cuff Road project was covered.