In Singapore, the silent struggle of single mothers facing poverty often goes unnoticed. In a society known for its affluence, these women confront unique challenges that are deeply intertwined with societal norms and government policies.

In the opening episode of the fourth season, host Liang Kaixin, Associate Director at the Institute of Policy Studies and a former journalist, engages in an in-depth discussion with two key figures in the field: Carrie Tan, Member of Parliament (MP) at Nee Soon GRC and founder of Daughters of Tomorrow, and Elizabeth Quek, Programme Manager at AWARE who managed the Support Housing and Enable (S.H.E.) project. They delved into the multifaceted issues faced by single mothers in Singapore, especially those who are unwed and divorced, and explore the complex intersection of poverty, single motherhood, and societal stigma.

This episode sheds light on the economic hardships, support systems, housing challenges, and the impact of societal perceptions on these women. It also explores recent policy shifts aimed at providing better support to unwed mothers.

Find out more about single parenthood in Singapore:

• AWARE (December 2016): Single Parents’ Access to Public Housing Findings from AWARE’s Research Project
• The Straits Times (25 March 2023): Struggles of mothers, lower-income women highlighted in new book
• The Straits Times (9 March 2022): Budget debate: MPs call for better support for single parents, low-income families

About our guests:

Carrie Tan, Member of Parliament; Founder, Daughters of Tomorrow

Carrie Tan is recognised for her dual role as the founder of Daughters of Tomorrow (DOT), a charity aiding underprivileged women in Singapore, and as a MP of Nee Soon GRC. Her journey in politics is a natural progression of her commitment to community service, emphasising the representation of marginalised voices and advocating for inclusive policymaking.

DOT's approach complements existing workforce-related agencies, connecting volunteers and community resources to each woman individually. By understanding their day-to-day constraints, the organisation provides tailored coaching and assistance, helping women achieve regular and sustained employment.

In her political role, Carrie Tan continues this ethos, advocating for the representation of marginalised voices and inclusive policy-making. Her work spans critical areas including women's empowerment, mental health, and community care.

Carrie has proposed initiatives like "Carefare" to support low-income full-time caregivers and tirelessly advocates for better mental health support in education and healthcare. In her constituency of Nee Soon South, she has established programmes like the Mental Well-being Committee and a Diaper Support Programme for the elderly, alongside an online show highlighting children's perspectives, all reflective of her dedication to mindful parenting and enhancing community well-being.

Elizabeth Quek, Program Manager, AWARE

Elizabeth Quek has had experience in the social service sector for over 15 years, with a focus on supporting single parents. As a Programme Manager at AWARE, she played a pivotal role in the S.H.E Project (Support, Housing and Enablement), a research-based service offering stable housing and transformational support for low-income families led by single mothers. This initiative, with its pilot program running from 2018 to 2021, aimed to provide these families with a chance to stabilise their lives and transition out of poverty.

The S.H.E Project, addressing findings from AWARE’s 2016 study on single parents' access to public housing, provided long-term housing stability, unlike typical transitional housing programmes.

From July 2019 to April 2020, Elizabeth also managed the Community Childminding Network, part of Daughters of Tomorrow, focusing on building community support among mothers. This initiative created a "kampong of trust" to address childminding needs, allowing more women to work and support their families.

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• Season 3 Episode 8: Pregnancy and Maternity Discrimination with Sher-li Torrey, Founder of Mums@Work and Kalpana Vignehsa, Senior Research Fellow at IPS
• Season 3 Episode 7: Palliative Care for the Young and Old with Dr Chong Poh Heng, Medical Director at HCA Hospice Limited and Tay Jia Ying, an end-of-life doula and Founder of Happy Ever After
• Season 3 Episode 6: Social Worker Burnout with Louis Ng, MP for Nee Soon GRC and Cindy Ng-Tay, Director of Home at Children’s Aid Society
• Season 3 Episode 5: Leaving the Law Profession with Andrew Chan, Partner at Allen & Gledhill LLP and Michelle Yeo, Of Counsel at LVM Law Chambers LLC
• Season 3 Episode 4: Racism at Work with Dharesheni Nedumaran, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, APAC, at Mediabrands and Shamil Zainuddin, Research Associate at IPS Social Lab
• Season 3 Episode 3: Ableism at Work with Cassandra Chiu, a vision impaired counsellor and advocate for PWDs, and Justin Lee, Senior Research Fellow at IPS
• Season 3 Episode 2: Ageism at Work with Heng Chee How, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC), and Associate Professor Helen Ko of the Master & PhD in Gerontology Programmes at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS)