justin paul - focus on the family singapore · justin paul assistant manager / social worker...

Justin Paul

Assistant Manager / Social WorkerProject Head, Project FAMILYFei Yue Community Services

Aspirations & Challenges ofTransnational Couples

Observations from Transnational Family Support Programmes

P R ES ENTAT I ONS 1 & 2 :

Eileen Su

Programme Head (Senior Social Worker)Family Journey Programme

Care Corner Singapore

Outline of Presentation

• Introduction of Marriage Programmes for Transnational Couples

• Profile of Participants

• Aspirations of Transnational Couples

• Challenges of Transnational Couples

• Summary & Observations

3

Programme Objectives

• Marriage programmes customized for transnational couples, since Dec 2014

• Objectives– Help Singaporean-foreigner couples address cross-

cultural issues

– Help the foreign spouse better adjust and integrate into society

– Link couples to available community resources

4

Programme Structure

Marriage Preparation ProgrammeEnhanced Cinta Abadi

Marriage Support Programme

Marriage Preparation & Support Programme

Workshops & Support Groups

Social Outings

Volunteer-Couple Buddy Programme

5

Role in the system

Low Medium High

Continuum of Complexity & Risk

Transnational Support Agencies FSCs, Specialized Agencies

6

PROFILE OF TRANSNATIONAL COUPLES WHO ATTENDED PROGRAMME

Statistics from the Programme

• Between Dec-2014 and Mar-2017

– 5,544 couples have participated in the programme

8

Summary of Profile

• Need for intervention efforts for foreign husbands

• Language Challenge – Vietnamese

• Age of marriage and age difference may give rise to different set of challenges

• Education qualification does represent Singaporeans having a better understanding of policies

12

ASPIRATIONS OFTRANSNATIONAL COUPLES LIVING IN SINGAPORE

Aspirations of Transnational Couples

• Couples aspire to

– Establish a family in Singapore

– Support each other’s families

• Local Spouses aspire to

– Have a home of their own

– Fulfill the expectations of their Families

14

Aspirations of Transnational Couples

• Foreign Spouses aspire to

– Call Singapore their home

– Be a good “member” of the family

– Raise their child in Singapore (from previous marriages)

15

CHALLENGES FACED BY TRANSNATIONAL COUPLES LIVING IN SINGAPORE

“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its

own way.”

From “Anna Karenina”, Leo Tolstoy

17

Marriage Quiz

• Administered in Marriage Support Programme

• From June 16 to June 17

• Sample Size: 958 pax (479 couples) who participated

in Care Corner’s marriage programme

18

Story of Mei Mei

23

Foreign Spouses:

- Process of LTVP- Caregiving

responsibilities- Process of employment- Cultural Differences:

Different pace of life- Stereotypes

Common Challenge 1: Employment/LTVP

Couple:

- Lack of income- Long working hours

(ie: 10 hrs daily)- Different

expectations about employment

Local Spouses:

- Unemployment- Worried about

external influences if FS works

- More earning power than me

20

Foreign Spouse:

- Interference of in laws in daily life issues

- Emotional Distress- No housing option,

back to country of origin.

Common Challenge 2: Housing Issues

Local Spouse:

- Stuck in between mother and wife

- Lose focus in work due to conflicts at home

Couple:

- Financial difficulty in getting BTO, Resale or Rental

- No personal space- Couple staying apart

21

Foreign Spouses:

• Handicapped• Hard to get

employment• Difficulties in

accessing to community resources

Common Challenge 3: Language Issues

Couple:

- Communicate at only basic level

- Emotional needs not met

- Misunderstandings

Local Spouses:

- Helplessness

22

Low self worth

Shameful

Stress

Frustrated and

perplexed

No control

Little acceptance at home & community

Lost in direction

Little/no time to build martial relationship

IntrapsychicRelationships

Strained relationships @ work & at home

Couples staying apart

Strained relationships with spouse due to conflicts with in laws

Spouses seeking refuge out of home

Excluded & Isolated

Oppressed &

suffocated

Regrets coming to Singapore

Inhibited & Trapped

Low confidence

Constant anxiety

Depressed

FearfulDivorce due to increase strained relationship

Homesickness

Loneliness

24

Challenges faced by Transnational Couples living in Singapore

Aspirations Challenges

Money

Bully

IntrapsychicRelationships

25

Observations

26