I have been working in Hong Kong since July 2010. When I first started, I only focused on applying for jobs with families who have babies and toddlers.
I truly love kids, and I feel a special connection when I care for the little ones. Whenever I miss my own children, I sometimes hug the children I care for and imagine they were mine. It makes me feel easier and lighter, and keeps me going at work; even though I still experience homesickness at times.
The current family that I am with is my 6th employer. I started working with them when Aliz was 7 months old. They even enrolled me in pediatric classes at the YMCA, because they wanted me to be equipped with the right knowledge and skills to care for Aliz.
They treat me as part of their family. They genuinely care about my health, and their concern makes me feel valued and respected. I can also feel their love and kindness towards my family.
My employer offers me support that goes far beyond my role as a domestic worker. They encourage me to volunteer and help me manage my commitments, especially when there were workday events I needed to attend. They also support my personal learning and growth. Because of their kindness, work feels more meaningful and secure. It feels like a partnership rather than just a job.
I am beyond grateful for how my children have grown up independently; pursuing their education with courage and purpose. Their growth is a reminder that hope can become real.
I still dream of them completing their university studies, a path I was never able to take myself. While I work and continue building my future, I aim to stay knowledgeable too. I plan to enrol in courses which I believe will strengthen my skills and support my plans when I eventually decide to go home for good. I do not want my life to be limited to domestic work. My life is bigger than that.
My greatest pride right now is that I have been able to invest in a home for our family. After my children graduate, I want us to live together in comfort and unity, just as I have always imagined, being together, supported, and finally at peace.
As co-founder of Migrant Writers of Hong Kong (MWHK), I would like every fellow Migrant Domestic Worker (MDW) to remember: “We are not just domestic workers – we are indeed more than that!”
We hold inner talents and stories that deserve to be seen and heard, not kept silently inside our comfort zones. The world often measures us by our job titles, but it can never capture our creativity, our resilience, or the scale of our dreams. That is why we must step forward – so people can know we are capable of much more than they believe.
Through our ongoing project, THE WRITER’S TOOLBOX 4.0: Write to Empower – Creative Expressions for Migrant Domestic Workers, we are creating a platform where our voices can be heard, our knowledge can be appreciated, and our hard work can be acknowledged.
Change begins with us! Let’s start doing better, so we can become better, together.
As a PathFinders’ Ambassador for five years, my mission is to raise awareness about MDWs’ maternity rights and protection. No matter our background, we have the right to be pregnant and be treated with dignity. We should not be judged, humiliated, or punished for having a child while working.
Too many MDWs experience unfair termination or mistreatment after an unplanned pregnancy, often without proper support or fair treatment from employers. Every child matters, and we should be cared for with compassion, regardless of the situation.
I’ve grown more confident in sharing my knowledge with fellow migrants, especially those who have just arrived in our city; so they understand their rights and know they will not face hardship alone. When something goes wrong, there are hands willing to help and ears willing to listen.
