Financial empowerment
Brighter Financial Futures
Three free online courses that help migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong and Singapore take control of their money: before they leave home, while they are working, and when they are ready to go back.
Duration
2 to 3 weeks, 30min/day
Cost
Free
Language
English, Bahasa Indonesia
Format
Online
No laptop needed. A simple smartphone and an internet connection are enough. No scheduled meetings to attend.
Three courses, one journey
Over 10,000 participants have learned to manage their finances with Uplifters. Brighter Financial Futures brings three of those courses together into one pathway, so workers are supported at every stage of their employment journey.
Stage 1
Before starting, or early in employment
Protect Your Dreams, Protect Your Money
Financial empowerment - 3 weeks, 30min/day - English - No pre-requisite
Navigate debt, family pressure, and financial risk. Learn to spot illegal lenders, debt cycles and scams, and hold honest conversations with family to set realistic expectations. Co-designed with Sheetal Sarup, an expert in migrant domestic worker loan issues.
- How loans work and how to avoid debt traps
- Risky lenders, hidden fees and online loan dangers
- Spotting money laundering, investment, job and romance scams
- Talking to family about salary, remittances and priorities
Stage 2
While working abroad
Dare to Dream
Financial empowerment - 3 weeks, 30min/day - English & Bahasa Indonesia - No pre-requisite
Uplifters’ signature course. It teaches domestic workers to manage money, plan for their goals and build confidence, guided daily by a trained Team Leader who has been through the course herself. Most participants go from rarely saving to actively building emergency funds.
- Budgeting, saving and long-term planning
- Self-care, confidence and emotional resilience
- Clearer communication and setting boundaries
- Peer support through a class chat of up to 20 students
Stage 3
Preparing to return home
Start a Small Business in the Philippines
Financial empowerment - 3 weeks, 30min/day - English - After stages 1 & 2
Plan a viable small business back home, from choosing the right idea to managing costs, loans, permits and marketing. Designed around Philippine culture and community norms, using familiar examples like sari-sari stores, food stalls and home cooking.
- Choosing a business idea and avoiding risky MLM schemes
- Start-up costs, funding, loans, profit and cash flow
- Permits, barangay requirements, marketing and insurance
- Start small, test, learn and improve
How the courses work
Phone only
No laptop needed. Students learn on a simple smartphone, using the same login they registered with.
Self-paced, around 30 minutes a day
No scheduled meetings. Lessons are available anytime, so students pick up where they left off whenever they have time.
A Team Leader in every class
Each group chat is led by a trained domestic worker who has completed the course, with a maximum of 20 students so everyone can ask questions.
A certificate at the end
Students receive a Certificate of Completion. Not an accredited diploma, but a real recognition of achievement.
Uplifters in numbers
Our completion rate is nine times the industry average.
13,000+
community members 1
7,000+
enrolled in our core programme since 2018
84%
say Uplifters made a major difference in their lives 2
99%
satisfaction ratio 2
89%
have built, or are building, emergency savings 3
71%
now save money, compared with only 43% before 3
x2
increase in confidence managing their finances 3
110+
alumni volunteering to support their peers
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Janelyn D.
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Freda P.
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Evelyn O.
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Ayu C.
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Catherine A.
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Nelie N.
Frequently asked questions
Who are these courses for?
Migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong and Singapore. All three courses are free.
How does it work?
Only an internet connection and a mobile phone are needed. Students access lessons on our learning platform using the same login they registered with.
When do sessions start?
Course dates are announced on our Facebook page and WhatsApp, with a link to join. Courses are self-paced, so students can learn whenever they have time, and there are no scheduled meeting times.
Where does learning take place?
We measure what changes, not just what happens. Before and after every course, students complete a survey tracking financial behaviour, confidence, and well-being. Our flagship programme, Dare to Dream, shows: 98% of graduates feel confident managing finances, compared to 27% before; 77% save money every month, compared to 39% before; and 44% report feeling very happy, compared to 25% before.
How are funds used, and how do you ensure financial sustainability?
It's 100% online. We also encourage students to join optional club meetings with classmates on their days off. It is a great way to make friends and discuss the lessons in real life.
Do I need to be fluent in English?
Basic English is enough to start, and the courses will help improve it. Dare to Dream is available in English and Bahasa Indonesia. We are translating the rest of the programme materials into more languages, beginning with Bahasa Indonesia.
What if I need help?
Students never study alone. A Team Leader, a trained domestic worker who has completed the course, invites new students into a class chat group of up to 20 people, so everyone can join in and feel comfortable asking questions. The chat can be muted to avoid interruptions at work.
Will I earn a certificate?
Yes. A Certificate of Completion is issued. It is not an official educational certification, accreditation or diploma, but it is something to be very proud of.
Do the courses have to be taken in order?
"Protect Your Dreams, Protect Your Money" and "Dare to Dream" can be taken independently. "Start a Small Business in the Philippines" is available once both of the other two are complete.