“Our homes are our sacred grounds, and inviting migrant workers into our homes for a meal is a big step in opening up to our migrant friends,” said the man who started “Come Makan With Me,” an initiative that encourages Singaporeans to invite foreign workers into their homes for a meal.
Mohamad Farid, the 39-year-old who conceptualized the movement backed by the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC), kickstarted it last November with the help of several friends, according to The Straits Times. At least six homes have opened their doors so far, with volunteers mainly coming from his circle of contacts. These homeowners would pick the date and the location to provide the meal, and the MWC would then connect them with the migrant workers who they’d receive as guests.
“We feel glad and privileged to have had the chance to share a simple meal with our wonderful guests,” he said in a post to MWC’s Facebook account that recounted his own experience sharing a home-cooked meal with two of MWC’s grassroots ambassadors.
“We shared stories about chicken dishes, the optimal age to get married, and the best places to get good clothes in Singapore,” he added. “We chatted too about the many challenges they faced here, and our aspirations for our families for the future.”
As for 29-year-old Bangladeshi Shafiqul, who visited Farid’s home, he expressed his surprise at the fact that a Singaporean family would invite them into their house for dinner.
“All the years working in Singapore, I have not expected this to happen,” he explained. “I am curious to see how the locals live here and this was my chance to experience the life of Singaporeans.”
MWC revealed that both sides had positive experiences so far, noting that “it is surprising how something as simple as a home-cooked meal, which many of us take for granted, and a few hours of friendly and caring interaction can break down the barriers that exist between us.”
According to The Straits Times, the workers involved in the initiative have been mostly construction workers from Bangladesh or South Asian countries, but other nationalities are welcome as well.
Farid plans for “Come Makan With Me” to become a regular occurrence, with support from the MWC.
