Written by Amelia, Community Member
In 2016, my family took a leap of faith.
We left behind the familiar and stepped into the unknown, hoping to build a better future in Singapore. As a transnational family, with my mother and me being the foreigners in our household, we have faced and continue to face numerous challenges. At first, we felt lost. We weren’t familiar with the many schemes and programmes available to Singaporeans, let alone the welcoming spaces within the community that could have helped us settle in.
One of the first hurdles was making our house feel like a home. With little furniture, our new space felt bare and unfamiliar. Thankfully, as we got to know our neighbours, they recognised our struggle and introduced us to online platforms where we could find second-hand furniture at affordable prices. Slowly, we pieced together a home. First, kitchenware, then a washing machine, then home décor.
Over time, we found a community that helped us navigate the many challenges of settling in. That’s when we came across Beyond, from which we not only received support but also found a sense of belonging.
Starting secondary school brought another emotional challenge. Technically, I should have been in Secondary 3, but I was placed in Secondary 2 to help me adapt before taking my O-Levels. Realising I was a year behind hit me hard. I worried my classmates would see me differently and that I wouldn’t fit in. But over time, I discovered I wasn’t alone – many others had to make similar adjustments. I slowly accepted that this was just part of transitioning into a new education system and started appreciating my own journey.
Through all of this, I’ve come to realize that struggle is universal, but we each respond to it in our own way. The feelings of uncertainty and of being lost are universal, but the way we respond to them shapes our journey. What helped us the most was connecting with our neighbours and plugging into support networks like Beyond. This is our community. Without it, we would have felt even more isolated.
To those who are struggling, I want to say: You are not alone. There are people who care and are willing to help, but you have to take the first step to reach out.
And to those hearing stories like mine for the first time, I hope it gives you a glimpse into the quiet challenges many low-income transnational families face. Even small acts like sharing information or simply offering a kind word can make a huge difference. When a community comes together, no one will feel lost or alone.