Holding On to Dreams My Journey as a Domestic Worker

Domestic workers play an important role in countless households offering care, comfort, and stability. We are the quiet hands that make homes peaceful, the hearts that nurture families. We cook, clean, and care, often becoming invisible in the spaces we help make whole. But behind every domestic worker is a personal story one woven with hope, sacrifice, and dreams. A story that begins with courage, travels through struggle, and finds strength in community. Today, I want to share mine a story of endurance, faith, and transformation. A story of how The Voice of Domestic Workers (VODW) helped me find not just support, but a family and a purpose.

My Story as a Domestic Worker Holding On to Dreams

I may be a simple domestic worker, but my heart carries dreams bigger than the distance between home and the life I live now. Like so many others, I entered domestic work because I wanted to provide for my family to give them comfort, education, and opportunities I never had.

Leaving home was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. I still remember the tears in my mother’s eyes, the way my children’s hands clung to mine, not wanting to let go. I told them I was leaving to make life better for them even though I wasn’t sure what challenges awaited me.

Working far from home is not easy. There are moments when loneliness hits you like a wave, when you miss the familiar sound of laughter at the dinner table, or the comfort of your own bed. There are mornings when you wake before the sun and nights when exhaustion numbs your body, but you keep going because giving up is not an option.

Every task I did — cleaning rooms, cooking meals, caring for others was an act of love. Each small act carried the weight of my hopes. I often reminded myself, “This is not forever. This is a step toward the future I’m building.”

Yet there were also days when I felt invisible when my hard work went unnoticed, and I questioned my worth. But deep inside, I knew I was more than just the work I did. I was a woman with strength, resilience, and a dream that no hardship could erase.

What Fair Treatment Truly Means

Fair treatment is more than just a kind word or a smile, it’s respect. It’s recognising that behind every domestic worker is a human being with emotions, dignity, and the same need for rest and peace as anyone else. We work long hours, often away from our families, to provide care and stability to others. But even as we serve, we deserve boundaries, time to rest, fair wages, and the right to live with dignity. Domestic work is real work, and it should be valued as such.

We are not machines that run endlessly. We need time to breathe, to recharge, and to remember who we are beyond the uniform or the tasks assigned to us. A day of rest is not a luxury; it is a necessity, a chance to care for ourselves the same way we care for others.

Fair treatment builds trust and harmony. A respectful relationship between employer and worker creates a happier home, one built not on power, but on understanding and mutual respect. When we are treated fairly, we give our best, not because we have to, but because we want to.

How The Voice of Domestic Workers Changed My Life

There was a time in my journey when I felt completely lost. I didn’t know where to turn or who to ask for help. The world felt too big, and I felt too small. Then, I found The Voice of Domestic Workers (VODW) and for the first time, I didn’t feel alone. VODW became more than an organisation to me. It became my safe place a home where my struggles were understood, where my voice mattered, and where I was reminded that I am not powerless.

When I faced financial hardship, they extended a helping hand that allowed me to stand again. When I needed healthcare, they guided me patiently, showing me that my well-being is important. Through their education programs, I gained skills I never thought I’d have, from learning English to mastering basic technology. These opened doors I didn’t even know existed.

They also helped me sort out my documents, giving me security and peace of mind. But beyond all of this, what VODW gave me most was confidence. The belief that I am capable of more, that my story matters, and that my dreams are worth pursuing. Because of The Voice of Domestic Workers, I found direction in moments of doubt, strength in times of weakness, and family in people who were once strangers. They reminded me that even when the world forgets us, we can still stand tall and be proud of who we are.

A Message from My Heart

My journey is far from over, but today I walk with more courage, more purpose, and more hope. My dreams are still alive, not just for myself, but for every domestic worker who continues to give their best every single day.

To all my fellow domestic workers: You are not alone. You are seen. You are valued. You are deserving of every right, every rest, every moment of peace. Fair treatment is not a privilege; it is our right and with organisations like The Voice of Domestic Workers, we are reminded that we belong, that our work, our voices, and our lives have meaning. Together, we rise. Together, we find our voice. Together, we hold on to our dreams.

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