Migrant Empowerment:
Digital Skills, Connection, and Community
From July 27 to September 28, Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Singapore held five digital skills workshops for 20 migrant brothers at the Migrant Workers Centre. The aim was to empower participants with practical skills in Google Workspace, AI understanding, and online safety. The workshops were full of exciting ‘firsts’ — using new JRS laptops funded by the migrant outreach programme and featuring new volunteer trainers who injected fun besides sharing their expertise.
The workshop kicked off with Google and ChatGPT account setup, followed by AI fundamentals led by Andros.
Gabrielle and Lucas then provided a comprehensive introduction to Google Workspace. Quizzes and hands-on activities helped participants organize files in Google Drive and use Google Docs for writing and sharing.
Fairuz and Sandra led a resume writing session. Participants freely shared feedback on pre-submitted resumes, learning from facilitators and each other on how to tailor resumes to match job requirements. Fun quizzes and prizes added to the engagement.
LeAnne’s Google Sheets workshop brought formulas to life with relevant examples and hands-on data management and simple calculation activities. Quizzes and prizes kept the session informal.
Hui Qin concluded the workshops with cybersecurity lessons, providing practical examples of violations, scams, and tips.
JRS facilitators supported the trainers, creating a welcoming learning environment. A highlight was the interaction with the migrant brothers — learning about their work and families. One of them eagerly awaited the birth of his second child, a son. The workshops connected JRS with migrant brothers and provided them with valuable skills.
For first-time facilitators Fairuz, Sandra, and LeAnne, the workshops were a truly meaningful experience. Both trainers and facilitators described the participants as engaging, intelligent, and enthusiastic. The participants, in turn, enjoyed the sessions and found the skills they acquired to be useful.
Article contributed by Charmaine Oei (above). A senior lecturer at Temasek Polytechnic, Charmaine is a volunteer with JRS, and has been actively involved in the migrant outreach programme.