Stories about domestic helpers often make headlines for the wrong reasons<\/a>.<\/p>\n Stomper Richard <\/strong>hopes his family\u2019s story will remind people that some employers and helpers build relationships that last far beyond the home.<\/p>\n \u201cWe see many news articles about maid abuse in Singapore, but very few about the good bonds between employers and helpers<\/a>,\u201d Richard told Stomp.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope our story will inspire other employers to be kind and reasonable to the domestic helpers working in Singapore.\u201d<\/p>\n Richard and his wife, Mee Ling, travelled more than seven hours \u2014 a two-hour flight followed by a five-hour drive \u2014 to attend their helper Nur Anisa\u2019s wedding in her hometown of Indramayu, Indonesia, on June 22.<\/p>\n Nur Anisa has worked for the family, which includes the couple\u2019s 20-year-old son and 18-year-old daughter, for the past four years.<\/p>\n For the wedding, the couple presented their 27-year-old helper with a pair of 916 gold earrings.<\/p>\n Wedding gifts Richard and Mee Ling bought for their helper Nur Anisa and her family.<\/p>\n PHOTO: STOMP<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n They also brought gifts for her family, such as:<\/p>\n The wedding, however, was only part of the reason for making the journey.<\/p>\n Richard, who is the marketing and operations director of Singapore Healthcare Alliance, said the trip coincided with the company\u2019s 10th anniversary.<\/p>\n To mark the milestone, he decided to channel its corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts into the village where Nur Anisa grew up.<\/p>\n On June 23, Richard and Mee Ling inaugurated a newly renovated rural preschool that Singapore Health Alliance had helped fund.<\/p>\n Richard and Mee Ling at a rural preschool in Indramayu, Indonesia.<\/p>\n PHOTO: STOMP<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n The sponsorship paid for new external walls, a new school gate, classroom flooring and corridor tiles, as well as repairs to damaged classroom walls.<\/p>\n The couple also distributed school bags, stationery, lunch boxes, souvenirs and financial assistance to teachers and students.<\/p>\n Later that day, they gave cash and household essentials to families in the village, while children received toys, school supplies and red packets.<\/p>\n The couple distributed school supplies, toys, groceries and financial assistance to teachers, students and families.<\/p>\n PHOTOS: STOMP<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n During the trip, Richard also reunited with the family\u2019s former helper, who now lives in the same village with her husband and young son.<\/p>\n They also visited the family of another domestic helper known to Richard\u2019s relatives. After seeing their difficult living conditions, the couple bought a new mattress and standing fan for the family, gave red packets to their four children, and purchased another fan for a neighbouring household.<\/p>\n The couple took the opportunity to visit their former helper who lives in the same village.<\/p>\n PHOTO: STOMP<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Richard said the idea to support the village came naturally.<\/p>\n \u201cNur Anisa is a very diligent, responsible and honest helper,\u201d he said. \u201cShe is also a very kind person who loves helping others.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I thought, if I\u2019m already celebrating my company\u2019s 10th anniversary by doing good, why not do it in her hometown and benefit her community at the same time?\u201d<\/p>\n Richard said Nur Anisa has become part of the family and describes their relationship as \u201cexcellent\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have dinner together almost every evening,\u201d he said. \u201cShe\u2019s also very attentive and helpful whenever my elderly mother and my parents-in-law visit our home.\u201d<\/p>\n The family has also brought her along on overseas holidays, including a trip to New Zealand last year.<\/p>\n Nur Anisa joined Richard, Mee Ling and their children on a family holiday to New Zealand last year.<\/p>\n PHOTO: STOMP<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n Richard said Nur Anisa hopes to continue working for the family until her nine-year-old son grows up and starts working.<\/p>\n Have something to say? Join in!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Explore more on these topics<\/p>\n<\/div>\n See something interesting? Contribute<\/a> your story to us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Celebrating with a greater purpose<\/h2>\n
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\u2018She\u2019s part of our family\u2019<\/h2>\n
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