Ray of Hope is raising $9,560 to help Jolin cover the cost of completing her ‘N’ Levels this year as she has hopes to further her studies. The funds raised will be for:

1. School fees arrears: $8,640 (to be paid before end October 2022)
2. Current school fees: $920 (Jan & Feb 2022)

Jolin, 17, stays at a youth shelter and has very little family support. Jolin’s parents separated in 2006, when she was 1 year-old. Her mother remarried in 2009 and until 2017, Jolin suffered harsh physical punishment meted out by her stepfather. She was subsequently placed in foster care due to child protection concerns.

In 2019, Jolin was returned to her mother’s care and they both moved back to Malaysia. However, Jolin returned to Singapore independently in September 2020 with the hope of furthering her education. Unfortunately, the living arrangement with her landlord did not work out. Their relationship was strained and Jolin was assigned to various interim homes and shelters.

Jolin’s mother works ad-hoc jobs in Malaysia and barely earns enough to provide for herself, let alone Jolin’s education expenses. This prompted Jolin to work as a part-time waitress from Friday to Sunday. She brings back about $900 a month and remits $500 to help cover part of her mother’s living expenses.  The rest of Jolin’s earnings goes to her daily expenses and her school fees. However, she is unable to fully cover the unsubsidised school fees of $460 a month as she is holding a Permanent Resident (PR) status.

Over the years, the arrears have accumulated and now stand at $8,640 which needs to be paid off before Jolin can take her ‘N’ Levels examinations at the end of the year. In spite of these financial difficulties and her juggling her part-time job, Jolin is doing well academically and was also appointed as a student counsellor.

Jolin misses her mother and often calls back to share about her life. However, this is not always possible as her mother may be busy working. Yet she continues to support her mother so that “she can have it easier financially”.