Ms Ang Chin Choo used to clean her sister’s Japanese pub every weekend. Before this, she was helping out at a sushi stall in a shopping mall near her home. She could not take on a full-time job as her children were still young and she had to take care of them when they came back from school. Her husband was also not supportive of her going out to work as she had her hands full with house work. “He looked forward to warm, home-cooked meals when he came home from work,” quipped Ms Ang.
Upgrading with Workfare-Skill Up programme
The situation changed when her children were old enough to take care of themselves. Her eldest child has just graduated from university while her youngest child has just enrolled in the polytechnic. Her brother who knew about the Workfare–Skill Up programme encouraged her to upgrade herself. When Ms Ang first approached course consultant Marilyn Tay at NorthEast CDC, she did not know what courses to take as she had no concrete plans for the future. The latter was very encouraging and advised her to register for some basic courses first before choosing a career path.
The situation changed when her children were old enough to take care of themselves. Her eldest child has just graduated from university while her youngest child has just enrolled in the polytechnic. Her brother who knew about the Workfare–Skill Up programme encouraged her to upgrade herself. When Ms Ang first approached course consultant Marilyn Tay at NorthEast CDC, she did not know what courses to take as she had no concrete plans for the future. The latter was very encouraging and advised her to register for some basic courses first before choosing a career path.
Ms Ang thus attended a basic eight-day English course in December 2010 under the Workfare-Skill Up programme, and followed up with more courses in customer relations, basic computer skills, and advanced English courses. In recognition of her improvement in literacy, she received a $200 Milestone Award and a further $400 Training Commitment Award for her passion towards lifelong learning.
Never too old to learn
The more courses she attended, the more her confidence grew. While flipping through the newspapers one day, she spotted an advertisement for a childcare centre assistant. She decided to apply for the job given her personal experience with raising three children.
Ms Ang said, “In the past, I would not have dared to go for an interview, but after attending the Workfare-Skill Up courses, I built up a lot of confidence. I felt that since my children were already independent, I could look for a full-time job.”
Ms Ang started working part-time in a nursery for 4 months, before joining Cherie Hearts Little Angels, a childcare centre, as a full-time teaching assistant. Today, Ms Ang relishes her work at Cherie and enjoys interacting with the toddlers, reading to them and even teaching them to make toys out of recycled materials. She is also pursuing the Certificate in Infant/Toddler Care and Development with the support of her centre principal.
Tiring but worthwhile
“It is really quite tiring to attend night classes after working hours. But I tell myself to go on, because I realise I am encouraging my own children in the process. I am showing them that one can keep upgrading oneself regardless of one’s age,” said Ms Ang.
It helps that Ms Ang’s husband is now supportive of her endeavours and even helps out with the housework.
Ms Ang said jokingly, “I just have to prepare the ingredients before I go to work so my family can still enjoy home-cooked food in the evening!”
Workfare-Skill Up is a structured training programme to give low-wage workers a stronger foundation in basic literacy so that they can continue with workplace skills training and enhance their ability to take on better jobs.
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Source : http://wdasingapore.blogspot.com/2012/03/from-cleaning-lady-to-childcare-centre.html#more
