when adversity forges strength
Do you know who the Samsui women are? What was life like living in a village in 1960s Singapore? How much do you know about the fire that swept through the village of Bukit Ho Swee? Who helped them get back up on their feet?
Samsui women, also known as hong tou jin (红头巾; Mandarin for “red headscarf”) after their trademark red headgear, were female immigrants mainly from the Sanshui (“Samsui” in Cantonese; meaning “three waters”) district of Canton (Guangdong today) province in southern China. Other areas where they came from include Shunde and Dongguan, also in Canton province, as well as places outside of Canton like Fujian and Chao’an, although samsui women from these regions were much fewer. Samsui women started arriving in Singapore in large numbers in the mid-1930s and many found work as general labourers in the construction industry. A large number of these women lived together in shared accommodations. There are few samsui women left in Singapore today, as most have either passed away or returned to China. They are often depicted as thrifty and resilient individuals who helped to build up the early Singapore's infrastructure.
extract taken from eSources.NLB.gov.sgTo gain a better understanding of the lives of these two groups of people and how the characters overcame adversity to build a better life for themselves and others,
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Try Activity 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 after watching the short interesting videos on Samsui women
Now that you've reached the end, think about these questions and share your thoughts with your friends. It is also a good opportunity for you to listen to what others might have to say.
3 things you have have learned about the Samsui women and Bukit Ho Swee Fire.
2 qualities that makes a person resilient during a period of difficulty.
1 action you can take to help another person or group of people who are facing hardship.
If you would like to explore more, click on these links:
Try these fun activities too!
Download Handout 1 and 2. Make a tabletop puppet theatre stage and puppets using items you can find around the house. Then, think about putting up your own puppet performance. Here are some stories you can think about putting up.
After the fire: What would you do to help Ah Ho and the kampong of Bukit Ho Swee if you were Ah Swee?
The kampong spirit lives on in Bukit Ho Swee HDB estate
What if the Samsui women were really called back by the government to help rebuild Bukit Ho Swee? What would it be like?
Stories past and present: Read about the lives of other early tradesmen and write a play about them on the theme of adversity and resilience
when-adversity-forges-strength-handout-1.pdfwhen-adversity-forges-strength-handout-2.pdf