Back then, overcharging and unfair deductions were rarely raised as issues. We simply accepted them, believing silence was survival.

While volunteering at the HOME Helpdesk, I met another domestic worker who took up running to raise funds for the organisation and I was very inspired by her. I wanted to help too through sports.

I also help educate migrant workers about menopausal syndrome through workshops that explain symptoms like brain fog, perimenopause, and hot flashes.

In 2014, I created my own group called Fantasy Shoot... It provides a space for those with a passion for digital art photography, dance, and modelling.

This experience made me realise that even when we work hard and give our best, our employers might not appreciate us or recognise our value. They often do not think about our rights, simply making decisions without considering the impact it has on us.

I believe that when we uplift others, we also uplift ourselves. By sharing my story, by listening, and by reaching out, I’ve become part of something bigger than myself. My life is not only about sacrifice. It is about healing, empowerment, and community.

We snuck through the garbage corridor and hid inside large trash bins, waiting for the truck. When it came, we begged the driver to take us to the Indonesian Embassy. He hesitated but finally called the police, who brought us there. We recovered our passports but not our wages.

My husband never supported my decision to work overseas. On the day of my flight, he took all my belongings and locked me inside his sister’s house.

I’ve learned that happiness doesn’t always come from having a partner. It comes from being able to accept reality and striving to build a better future… Being a single mother is not the end of the road.

There are still moments when I feel guilty for not being around to raise our children... But I have accepted that what I am doing is necessary, even if it doesn’t match the traditional image of a woman’s role.

I had no days off, no contact with the outside world, not even with my own family. I endured it all in silence, swallowing my tears and hiding my pain, just waiting for the days to pass.