Embedded Files
On a weekly basis, CIS students volunteer at MFMW, an organisation dedicated to delivering responsive services to foreign domestic workers. These workers are underpaid, overworked, trapped in the vicious cycle of debt and discrimination. The organization supports 50 women migrant domestic workers in distress everyday at the Bethune House shelter, and services over 20 workers per week at the walk-in centre. See introductory video from MFMW here.
Our goal
Our goal is to care and support migrant workers, virtually, through an informative monthly Youtube-video series designed to teach migrant workers how to cope with COVID, manage finances, their rights as migrant workers and more. Additionally, we aim to interact with the migrants directly by teaching engaging sessions to Bethune House residents through Zoom on a weekly basis.
Expectations
During COVID-19, we will be offering two service projects under MFMW. Students can:
1. Work as individuals or in teams to teach Zoom classes to the residents of MFMW's Bethune House shelter. Students can propose what they would like to teach depending on the skills that they have, but here are some examples of courses: English/Cantonese/Languages (a popular area of study for the residents), DIY/handicrafts/art, yoga/meditation/mindfulness (especially helpful because shelter residents can be under a lot of stress), and so on.
2. Design, plan, and create videos for the Helper’s Ed branch of MFMW. This is a student-run YouTube channel that makes videos which aim to educate migrant workers about issues pertaining to their financial literacy and basic rights - eg. budgeting and saving, dealing with agencies, money saving habits, etc.
The schedule is highly flexible and there are offerings on most days of the week, including weekends. Students can work on video content during any day of the week and service leaders will keep track of their progress. For Zoom class service, the rough schedule will be as follows: students will create lesson plans ahead of time in order to give MFMW a heads up in terms of what materials or spaces may be necessary for the classes so that it can be prepared. The students will then use Zoom to connect to the residents for one hour, delivering their lesson. Lessons will occur at least once a week, but a more detailed rotation schedule will be created as soon as we figure out the availability on MFMW's side. If a student is not teaching during that week, they may opt to use their service slot for Helper’s Ed instead, or they may choose to do both.
Planning Time: Friday lunch (1:00 - 1:40 pm)
Service Day: Any day during the week for Helper's Ed branch (but must show us consistency). Tuesdays (3-4 and 4-5PM), Thursdays (3-4 and 4-5PM), Saturdays (2-3 and 3-4PM) for the Zoom classes
Skills Required
Creative/artistic individuals are preferred if the student would like to teach the workers or to create video content, but this is not necessary as we will welcome anybody who is willing and able to teach any skills that they have or offer their services in other ways. Naturally, the student should be interested/skilled at some sort of activity in order to deliver it as a course to the residents. Students should be effective communicators, friendly, and patient.
Student Leaders
Nicole Xiang
Shanting Hou
Illeana Li
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