PROJECT: MY DORM OUR HOME

PRODUCTION TEAM: GREEN INK.

TARGET CROWD: Singapore based Bangladeshi Migrant Migrant Workers
PROJECT DURATION: Feb 2020 - Till Present

PROJECT LINK: facebook.com/mydormourhome

PRODUCTION TEAM:
1. Chief Executive Producer: Ehsan Kabir
2. Producer: Md. Ashraful Alam
3. Social Media Manager: Ferdoshi Akhter Khan Tanha
4. Panel Editor: Rashidul Karim
5. Hosts: Ehsan Kabir (Bangladesh), Fidia Kamal (Bangladesh), Nazmee Jannat
(Bangladesh), Sharmin Abbasi(Bangladesh), Raazu Ahsan (Bangladesh), Shafiqul
Islam (Singapore), Shopon Khan (Singapore) & JM Jasim (Singapore)

  

ABOUT the Project:

 “My Dorm Our Home”, a media

project to build social cohesion
among migrant workers in
Singapore, and to strengthen
their communal and social-
emotional resilience during the
COVID-19 period and beyond.
Project My Dorm Our Home
was one such effort initiated by
Green Ink., Diocese of
Singapore and The Anglican
Relief and Development
Agency International (ARDA
Intl), Church of Bangladesh.

As the COVID-19 virus silently

reached Singapore’s shores and
began spreading, migrant
worker dormitories became
serious hotspots and
dominated the national
headlines.  To flatten the curve, the many thousands of migrant workers, including
Bangladeshi Migrant workers in both large purpose-built dorms and factory-converted
ones were placed in strict lockdown, along with the rest of Singapore. The workers were
to remain in their dorm rooms 24/7, observe safe distancing, and interact only with their
immediate roommates. Instead of a normally-high physical work tempo, the migrant
worker was now suddenly inactive, left to his own anxieties, insecurities, boredom, and
discomfort.  Confined to his cramped, spartan and humid room day in and out, the
frequent sight and sounds of ambulances leaving with infected brothers triggered many
fears: “Will I be next?” “Will my job in Singapore be secure?” “Can I continue to support my
family?”

The migrant worker’s situation in the dormitories moved many people of faith and
organisations to action.  There was a growing recognition of the migrant worker as our
neighbour, and he needed our help and care. The need for strict safe distancing made
frequent in-person contact impossible, hence we plan to leverage social media
technology to connect with and care for our migrant worker neighbours.  So, the basic
concept of My Dorm Our Home was to produce culturally distinct video programmes in
selected language channels that
focused on enhancing the social
cohesion and empowerment of the
migrant workers confined to their
dorm rooms.  

My Dorm our home project started

its journey from 1st April 2020 and
ever since then over 50 episodes of
different programmes focusing on
the wellbeing of Bangladeshi
migrant workers  has been aired on
the facebook based platform. The
platform is currently working with
over three thousand migrant
workers and has involved around
100 members in the process. Using
digital media platforms like
Facebook and YouTube, MDOH
developed and broadcast
edutainment content in Bangla,
Tamil, and Mandarin. At the same
time, the project also involved the migrant in the process of content creation and
groomed them to host the sessions, and also provided them with basic skills in the field of
acting, journalism, and entertainment.

Many such migrants also appeared as guest panelists during live online discussions
expressing their opinions and perspectives on various issues in this regard. To lessen the
gap between the migrant workers in Singapore and their loved ones residing in their
respective home countries, their family members were also invited to participate in the
MDOH programmes with the help of Green Ink Media.
My Dorm Our home project consisted of a variety of shows starting with the first ever
social media based talent show for Banhgaldeshi migrant workers “ My Dorm Our home
Idol hunt”. A total of 10 contestants from 100 entries were selected to battle it out in a 4
part series and at the end reign as the champion. The show included celebrity guest
judges and performances and cash prizes for first and second place contestants.
Workshop based shows such as  “Do it yourself” provided the migrant workers with the
opportunity to enhance different skills such as acting, photography and live reporting
with the help of professional mentors and artists. 

“Such platforms display the power of communications integrated with technology as it

has the ability to connect and inspire people, especially in situations like the coronavirus
pandemic,” shares Ehsan Kabir, the CEO of Green Ink Media. “This initiative not only
lessened the distance between the countries but also managed to restore the
mindfulness of far-away migrant workers in Singapore.”

As the stakeholders of this initiative mostly consist of individuals aged between 18 to 35,
MDOH is also seeking deeply measure the existing trends in two other areas – content
creation and production process to promote the concept of empowerment and to
enhance the relationships and understanding between the migrants and the local youths,
through a collaboration with Barishal Youth Society (BYS).

 “MDOH has created a bridge between

migrant workers and Bangladeshi
celebrities, media personalities, artists,
and experts in different fields. This
platform has been a great mental
support to Bangladeshi migrant workers’
community in Singapore,” shares
Shopon Khan, a migrant worker who is
the winner of MDOH Idol Hunt 2020.
“The platform-based skill development
sessions, art performing programmes,
musical contests, and open mic talk
shows have helped me break my shell
and perspire beyond my capacities.” 

Furthermore, My Dorm Our Home

project attempted to sensitize the
Bangladeshi migrant working
community in Singapore and it’s
audience with campaigns such as
Swapno Joy 2020 an initiative in
collaboration with Barishal Youth
Society to fight the stigma of COVID-19
and also celebrate the frontline heroes.
In addition, My Dorm Our Home
project also celebrated 16 Days of
Activism Against Violence Against
Women 2020 with a social media based awareness campaign titled “Spread the word”
with the participation of migrant workers and young people of Bangladesh. Over 100
people participated in the “Spread the Word” photo message movement and also a 3
hour long online concert was organized with several celebrities along with Bangladeshi
migrant workers in Singapore to make some noise and spread the word.  

Current Situation:

Currently My Dorm Our home is working on awareness based shows for the migrant
workers to equip them with knowledge. These sections included - Anti scamming
workshop, Prevent Visa Scamming workshop, The Good Man series (Friend, Partner
Husband, Father) - Behavioral workshop. In this phase My Dorm our home offered an
open platform for bangladeshi youth amature artists and performers who are still
developing their skill of performing arts and music
My Dorm Our Home became an instrument for empowering and uplifting our migrant
brothers.  The process involved coming up with creative ways to give them an active voice
and engage in mutual support.  The three media programmes frequently challenged the
roommates to approach their issues and concerns together as a team, instead of
struggling alone as individuals.  Each language programme intentionally invited workers
to be actively involved in the various segments, such as talk shows, discussion panels, and
performances.  Some workers even became show co-hosts and facilitators!  Our highly
popular Idol Hunt music contest series, for instance, showed migrant workers not as
faceless low-wage foreigners, but as individuals with strong musical talent.  One of our

shows even garnered more than 51,500 viewers, while the others typically averaged more
than 15,000 views. In order to encourage the participation of Bangladeshi MIgrant
workers, My Dorm Our Home introduced TOP FAN and WATCH & WIN Campaign where
the winners were handed over with prizes which came handy in their daily life. It is a way
to appreciate their engagement in our contents.

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened many societal gaps, leadership
dilemmas and structural fault lines.  For people of faith in Singapore, it has also
challenged our attitudes, by sharpening our focus on fundamental questions like: “Who is
my neighbour?”, and, “Why should I care”?  Project My Dorm Our Home was a faith
response, where we chose to regard the stranger as a native, and to embrace the migrant
worker as our neighbour. Rennis Ponniah, then Bishop of the Diocese of Singapore, also
expressed his own appreciation and encouragement, “Please know we are grateful for
your contribution to our country.  The Government is doing whatever it can to take better
care of you.  Christian Churches, together with many voluntary groups, will also do our
part to help and support you at this time.  We love you with the love of Jesus Christ and
we will pray that God will bless you!”

● Statistics:
Total Produced Shows : 80

Total Digital Reach so Far : 8,50,000+ 

Total view in Social Media :  1,75,000+

Total Engagement in Social Media : 2,20,000+

Partners:
Bangladshi migrant workers based productions of My Dorm Our Home always welcomed
any local, foreign and international platforms to partner up as this is an open platform to
promote awareness with issues of mutual interest. So Far 13 number of partners from
Bangladesh, Germany and Singapore has partnered up with My Dorm Our Home in
different kinds of shows:
● IFNB : Initiative für Neue Bildung - Germany
● Singapore to Bangladesh - Singapore
● Singapore to Dhaka - Singapore
● Asia24 - Singapore
● Project Dorm - Singapore
● Migrants Band Singapore - Singapore
● Zero Effect band - Singapore
● Overseas foreign workers in singapore - Singapore
● Dreams Arrived Band - Singapore
● Probashider Singapore - Singapore
● BYS : Barishal Youth Society - Bangladesh
● Radio Dhoni - Bangladesh
● SwapnoJatra  - Bangladesh
● The Online Talk Show – Bangladesh