One aim of Goducate’s Happy Happy English program in Singapore is to teach foreign workers functional English. An equally important aim is to offer some friendship to these workers, who have had to leave family and friends to work long hours here and to live in huge dormitories that are generally located in extremely remote parts of Singapore. Thus, apart from classroom work, the Goducate volunteers in the Happy Happy English program also organise outings for the students.
On April 26 Tamil Murasu, Singapore’s Tamil newspaper, carried a feature on Goducate. When the reporters heard that an outing was being organized for students on May Day, they turned up to cover the event, which was a morning at one of the parks for some games and a picnic lunch.
Comments from two of the students were included the report published on May 2. R Silambarasan, who has been working in Singapore for 8 months said, “Singaporeans are kind-hearted to organise this game event. Even though we miss many English classes, they continue to encourage and motivate us. They sacrifice their time for us and we really appreciate them. Even though we have left home, we feel the volunteers are there for us”.
Another comment came from Franklin Bosco, who was being retrenched and sent back to India that night because the company he was working for had been taken over by another. He said, “For the past 3 years, I have worked in Singapore and am leaving today for my homeland. I am very happy and I can never forget this event. This is the best May Day I have spent in Singapore. The volunteers have made us feel strong and brave. Even after I have left Singapore, I will continue to keep in touch with them through Facebook”.