I refuse to stay silent in the face of injustice. I want to challenge a system that devalues us and be a force that restores the rights of domestic workers — not as victims, but as proud workers deserving of justice, freedom, and dignity.
Biography
My name is Mimi, and I am a full-time domestic worker and a proud mother of three from Manila, Philippines. Born in 1975, I am the eldest child in my family, and my early life was shaped by hardship and resilience. I began my studies with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at Adamson University, but due to poverty, I had to change paths. I transferred to the International Electronics and Technology Institute in Alabang Muntinlupa City, where I completed courses in Computer Secretarial and Business Management. I juggled work and study, working at a travel agency as a Reservation and Ticketing Officer, while pursuing a degree in Midwifery at Olivarez College Paranaque City. Eventually, I worked at Dr Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila.
In 1998, I married and was blessed with three wonderful children — Denisse, now 23, Daniel, 21, and Faith, who is 15. Life as a full-time mother and housewife was demanding, and I dreamed every day of a brighter future for my children. To give them the opportunities they deserve, I made the difficult decision to work overseas as a domestic worker.
In 2013, I started working in Dubai, UAE. Then, in 2014, my Arab employers brought me to London, United Kingdom. But my hopes for a better life were met with hardship. I endured abuse and exploitation until I found the strength to free myself from that pain.
I was identified as a victim of modern slavery and granted a two-year domestic worker visa — a painful but vital recognition of the suffering I had endured. Today, I work as a nanny and housekeeper in Hackney. Beyond that, I serve as a legal trustee domestic worker with The Voice of Domestic Workers and proudly stand as a frontline campaigner fighting to restore the pre-2012 domestic worker visa — a fight for justice, dignity, and fair treatment for all.
Now, as I join the Future Voices Revolution 2025, I carry with me not only my story of survival but a deep commitment to create change. This programme offers me the chance to grow stronger, to gain new skills, and to amplify the voices of countless domestic workers who still suffer in silence.
I am ready to stand tall, to lead, and to be a beacon of hope and strength for my community. Together, through Future Voices, we will fight to reclaim our rights and build a future where every domestic worker is respected, protected, and valued.
