christmas lantern

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name: wilma
age: 43
profession: domestic worker / fundraiser
location: London
weekday: sunday
reference: this is my own creation made of recycled straw and paper. J4DW is working towards positive recognition and visibility of domestic work in british society.this is my way of remembering our own filipino tradition and this also help me to ease my loneliness of celebrating christmas away from my family and home with my justice 4 domestic workers (j4dw) family in the UK.

electricity breakdown

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name: Aitziber
age: 27
profession: Intern at Eye film institute
location: amsterdam
weekday: monday
reference: october 21st: electric breakdown for 2 days at my apartment in Barcelona. 45 square meters attic in the old part of the city for 441€/month, half of my wage including the expenses. The electricity was never renewed and i thought the breakdown was due to its age. i was afraid of calling Fecsa -the electric company- since they have no record of the existence of this electric system at this address and i´ve never paid any bill. julio, the owner of the bar downstairs came to have a look at it and also youness, a friend. i thought i´d have to pay for a new installation in order to fix it and have light again. 2 days later, pablo, de neighbor from the 1st floor knocked my door to ask me if i had light. we called the real state emergency telephone and surprisingly a man came two hours later to fix the electric box at the entrance of the building. he said that the electric system was too old and could burn at any moment. this was the last of many problems that the apartment had given me, so i decided to leave 10 days later. I’ve also migrated to the Netherlands.

The fruit of my Labour

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name: Jena
age: 38
profession: Domestic worker
location: Singapore
weekday: thursday
reference: While working as a domestic worker, I also think of my future and family even with my little salary, I always make sure that I save every month. So far I have now farmland with fruits  and rice fields. I also managed to build my own house bit by bit. I am looking forward to settle back home with my 2 children and husband waiting for me. I am only few among my fellow domestic workers whose Family is not torn apart by surviving urgent needs only to go home with broken family. domestic workers have to leave our family back home in the hope of better life and future of our children and families. Many do not understand us that we have to leave them but for us it is a matter of love and responsibility with strong hope that one day we can be reunited again.

frames and bears

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name: Realizza
age: 25
profession: domestic worker / visual artist
location: london
weekday: saturday
reference: “bears are kept and memories are framed” as we leave our own children and our own country in exchange  of money and job and a greener pasture, we missed the so many moments we supposed to share with them and that is the high cost of migration.

domestic worker visa

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name: Marissa
age: 41
profession: domestic worker / coordinator
location: london
weekday: saturday
reference: Domestic worker visa is the life of migrant domestic workers. without rights and protection the more abuse, exploitation and trafficking. Domestic worker visa is the prevention of trafficking, it is a medicine that cures that disease. Justice for domestic workers (j4dw) fights back to restore domestic worker visa with rights.

A Dedication of Life (when domestic worker’s sacrifice is too much to bear and fighting to survive is the only way)

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name: Marissa
age: 41
profession: domestic worker / coordinator
location: london
weekday: wednesday
reference:
“Oh, God! Please Let our sister Live…..”, 6 Months she may survive, 1 year maybe or even 5 years she may reach, A last stage of cancer she is so determine to defeat, Going Home to Philippines seems hell and bitter, As she found sweet refuge in UK as her Home

A smiling face greeted me as I open the door, Full of life with no trace of fear and sorrows, Dying is too near and yet too far to embrace her, Strength within I wonder where it from, As I hold her to feel her warm heart again

A family and life she would live to fight for, Unfulfilled dreams she may have had, Oh, our loving God, her thoughts are so founded and real, As she whisper her wishes through the air, Like an arts of life wandering around

Oh, God! Please let her life be spare, When would that be, please not too soon, Powerless I may to you, I dare not challenge you, You alone and only you would let us live, Oh, not let death be the short vengeance, When living could be her penance of fulfillment.

Domestic Worker can be an entrepreneur

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name: Jena
age: 38
profession: Domestic worker
location: singapore
weekday: Sunday
reference:  We often asked ourselves, is there life after being a migrant domestic worker? My answer is yes! But we need to work hard and be dedicated to achieve this. We also need to learn the basic mathematics earnings – expenses = savings. Every Sunday during my day off I spend some time in studying and sometime in volunteering to serve my fellow domestic workers. I chose the entrepreneurship course because that’ how I see myself after being a domestic worker. On my graduation day, I even received an award ‘best business plan’ which is also base on my own business plan as entrepreneur someday.