Dozens of former Singapore expatriates around the world are going on social media to search for the domestic helpers who looked after them or their children in Singapore more than half a century ago.
They are contacting history enthusiasts on Facebook groups, hoping to glean clues about their former amahs and ayahs, who often became like part of the family.
Local history buff Thomas Toh, 51, checks the Facebook group In Praise of Amahs and Ayahs once a week to see if there is anyone who needs a hand.
He translates names that have been transliterated into English, lets them know where old places might be on Google Maps, and directs members to resources.
Said Mr Toh, a tutor: Most of those in the group are servicemen who once lived in Singapore, Penang and Melaka who lost touch with their amahs or ayahs after they were repatriated.
“It is often quite difficult to find these women given that they were separated decades ago, but some manage to track down relatives of their amahs. They share photographs, which gives hope to others that they too can reunite with their amahs.”
The Facebook group with more than 450 members was started in 2016 by Ms Stephanie Keenan, 70, after she noticed the stories shared of amahs and ayahs on other groups for former service families.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 04, 2022-Ausgabe von The Straits Times.
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