Still, Dipa remains committed.
As most of these are policy-related issues, ItsRainingRaincoats, along with other migrant workers’ rights and support organisations like Transient Workers Count Too and Migrant Workers’ Centre, attend sessions with Members of Parliament and other key decision-makers to address these concerns.
“Some of these issues seem bleak, and I have more questions than answers these days. But the key is to keep going. We have to keep going. We must do better as a society.”
PASSING THE MANTLE TO THE NEXT TEAM
Dipa started ItsRainingRaincoats with just a few trusted friends. Today, it has two full-time staff and is supported by hundreds of regular volunteers and thousands of ad-hoc ones, many of whom are willing to dip into their own pockets to buy items or offer help whenever a worker is in need.
“So much time has passed since then. I’m 10 years older, my boys are all grown up, and my mum is now 91,” she said. “It’s incredibly heartwarming to see so many people come together for this often overlooked corner of our community.” Dipa’s sons are 20 and 17 years old.
“There’s no ‘out of office’ for ItsRainingRaincoats,” she said, half laughing. “As a lawyer, I can switch off. But for this, I’m always reachable. It’s been hard and relentless some days, juggling caregiving, raising my sons and managing my day job, but I feel a debt to the workers, so I’ve never turned my back on them.
“We’ve created a kind of social net, and if we stop doing what we do, that net disappears.”
Despite the challenges, she chooses to focus on ItsRainingRaincoats’ bright spots and impact, and the passion of the young.
“There’s a natural empathy in young people,” she said. “They see something unfair, and they instinctively want to do something about it.”
The challenge, she said, is keeping that interest alive.
To mark ItsRainingRaincoats’ 10th anniversary, the charity is hosting a fundraising gala lunch, featuring speeches from volunteers and workers, and a fashion show where the workers will showcase their creativity on the catwalk. Those who are interested in attending can reach out to ItsRainingRaincoats via their website or social media.
“Sometimes it’s easy to want to give up and feel as though nothing’s really changed,” she said.
“But looking back at these 10 years, I realised that so much has changed. Now, many people in Singapore show up for the people who built – and continue to build – our country.
“Seeing them, I’m filled with hope. And that’s what keeps me going forward.”
