Our small family was burdened with a number of challenges a few years ago when my husband was diagnosed with cancer. The diagnosis affected his employment as a cleaning supervisor. I was unable to work due to problems gaining PR status.

When the centre got to know about our problems, we were provided with valuable support from the Bright Horizons Fund (BHF). We received the financial assistance package which included free uniforms; we were also given the one-off CDA Top-Up of $400 as well as the sponsored NTUC membership programme. These schemes have helped to defray childcare costs and allowed our daughter’s educational needs to be taken care of.

We have also benefited from the community Food From the Heart scheme. The initiatives offered by the BHF and its partners really helped to relieve our financial burden. Added to these forms of support were morale boosting programmes such as the You Are Special! birthday cakes for our daughter, and the Family and Child Bonding Kit to encourage quality time in the family.

Besides this, the centre went a step further by writing appeals on my behalf to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and constituency MP to secure a PR status for me. As a result of their efforts, I successfully obtained my PR status and was able to secure a job. My husband is also regularly seeing the doctor and taking medication for his illness.

Our daughter now actively participates in classroom activities and readily answers queries posed by teachers. The teachers have shared that she is well-liked by her peers and plays well in a group setting. As parents, we are glad to see our daughter enjoying going to school as she likes learning new things with her teachers and friends. We are very grateful to MFS and the BHF for the support granted to us; our daughter’s progress is made possible because of them.

You can touch lives through the BHF. Your contribution goes a long way and helps to ensure that children are given opportunities to education regardless of their family backgrounds. Be a part of the BHF family.