Gloria (UIUX), Glen (Dev), David (Dev), MeeraCurrent: Steve & Belle (PM), Inez (UI/UX), Kate (Legal), Glen & Tharun & Yong En & Zi Wei (Devs)
Call Home was created by four people brought together by Better.SG. Many people in Singapore have adapted to the new social distancing rules by relying on digital connectivity to connect with their loved ones. However, one group was left behind in the mix: migrant workers.
Working and living away from home can be challenging even in the best of times. And with the global pandemic happening worldwide—and the fear and uncertainty that comes along with it—these overseas workers were struggling to afford calling cards after losing their jobs or getting pay cuts. Many migrant workers spend up to $30 per month on IDD cards just to make international calls to family members who often lack reliable internet access or smartphones
We envision a world where migrant workers can call their families back home at zero cost, regardless of digital connectivity. Call Home not only provides free or affordable calls but also streamlines the distribution of top-ups and funding. Migrant workers no longer need to leave their homes to purchase IDD cards, and sponsors can top up a single account, eliminating the challenges of manual distribution. With a goal of driving more donations, Call Home plans to partner with crowdfunding platforms like Giving.sg and Give.asia to scale the initiative and make it even easier for people to support migrant workers.
Call Home received multiple media mentions, as well as the Telecommunications Award from the Singapore Business Review. The initiative was generously supported by Meta Singapore as well as the Twilio Foundation. The project was wound down in 2024 as the economy renormalised.
Other online articles about the initiative are below:
