Suryani Bte Ismail, 41, has been taking care of her daughter single-handedly since she separated from her ex-husband in 2016. It is not easy juggling work as a food delivery rider and household chores alone while caring for her ten-year-old daughter. Since being enrolled in Singapore Red Cross' Family LifeAid, Suryani receives monthly supermarket vouchers that enable her to purchase nutritious food for her family. 

Suryani has been taking care of her daughter single-handedly after separating from her ex-husband in 2016.

On weekdays, Suryani’s day usually starts early at 5am. She prays, prepares breakfast for her daughter, cleans the house and feeds the cat while preparing for work. After doing so, Suryani will accompany her daughter to school at 6.40 am and start work at 8.30 am. She knocks off at 5.30am, fetches her daughter from student care at 6pm and prepares dinner thereafter. 

Hit by COVID-19

To support herself and her daughter, Suryani toiled as a food delivery driver for various companies after obtaining her class three driving licence. However, when COVID-19 struck the globe, she was swept up in the wave of unemployment. 

After Suryani lost her job as a food delivery driver, she worked part-time in a vegetable stall to make ends meet.

"I felt really sad that I lost my job as a food delivery driver. It was very difficult to get a job then,’’ she shared.

Thankfully, Suryani managed to secure a job as a food delivery driver again, and is currently working in this role.

Challenges as a Food Delivery Driver

But Suryani faces many challenges as a driver liaising with customers and restaurants.

"I feel pressured at work because I have to deal with complaints from customers about the late food delivery. The food delivery may be delayed due to bad weather, road congestion or when there is a long queue at the restaurant and I have to wait for 20 to 40 minutes for an order. It was stressful when customers called to ask about their deliveries," Suryani explained. 

When asked how she copes with the challenges, Suryani says, "I apologised for the delay and explained the circumstances patiently. Some customers were nice and understanding, but some were not."

Her Bundle Of Joy

Though Suryani’s life has had its fair share of downpours, Suryani also has a ray of sunshine in her life — her daughter.

"It can be stressful juggling the demands of work while caring for my daughter as a single-parent. But I ensure my mental well-being by staying optimistic and happy by spending time with my daughter," she underscores. 

"I get along very well with my daughter! She's ten years old and fairly independent. With my daughter around, I don’t feel lonely. I am very happy taking care of her as she is jovial; she sparks joy within me,’’ she adds with a radiant smile. 

Getting Acquainted with SRC

Thankfully, a social worker referred Suryani to the Singapore Red Cross (SRC). Under SRC’s Family LifeAid programme, she receives monthly supermarket vouchers that enable her to procure nutritious food such as fish and fruit for her daughter.

She says with gratitude, ‘’Thank you for the vouchers! They alleviate my financial burden and enable me to get nutritious food for my daughter!"

When asked about her aspirations for the future, she says, "My wish for my daughter is for her to consume nutritious food and grow up healthily. She's not picky with food, she eats economical food like sardines and fried rice. As she really enjoys the fried rice that I cook, I hope that I can keep cooking it for her.’’

By Tan Yong En, Volunteer Writer 
Copyedited by Kimberly Seah, Volunteer Copyeditor