This practicum aims to provide students from different social science majors an opportunity to draw from their disciplinary knowledge in addressing the needs of partner clients working on real-world problems. This semester, the class will be working with Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME), a Singapore-based charity dedicated to supporting migrant workers through welfare, empowerment and advocacy. In fulfilling this work, HOME actively seeks to gain insight into issues that impact migrant workers’ everyday lives within Singapore.
In this practicum, our class will be helping HOME conduct research on two specific issues involving migrant construction workers: 1) the transportation of workers to and from work sites; and 2) food security among construction workers. Specifically, HOME seeks help in:
- Investigating the costs and challenges of implementing safer transportation options for migrant construction workers
- Determining what factors undermine food security among migrant construction workers.
Findings from this practicum will inform HOME’s advocacy efforts for migrant workers. This information will also help HOME determine how to approach these issues when appealing to policymakers and members of these industries.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
• Understand the complex issues surrounding the experiences of migrant workers in Singapore
• Conduct a document analysis and key informant interviews in making sense of a particular
social problem.
• Reflect on how one’s social location shapes personal perspectives on particular social issues
• Present research findings to peers and partner client