Welcome Back to the Damayan Dispatch! February 2021

Welcome back to the Damayan Dispatch!

We are relaunching after a hiatus. Expect to hear from us each month with updates on how we are empowering Filipino migrant workers in New York City and neighboring areas to fight for their labor, health, gender, and immigrant rights. This is an important time as our members are battling an economic and health crisis on top of immigration and labor issues. Here is what we were up to in January 2021.

Damayan Commemorates National Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Celebrates MJ’s Recent Victory

For National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we celebrated the recent victory of MJ, a Damayan member and trafficked domestic worker who won her T-visa. At the January Workers Meeting, she shared her gripping testimony about her experiences with her traffickers and how she endured and prevailed the hardship with the help of Damayan and our community. Her win was met with celebratory cheers and messages of support.

Damayan Members Pack the First Online Workers Meeting of the Year

Eighty Damayan members, staff and supporters packed the first Online Workers Meeting of 2021. We met through Zoom to commemorate National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, take the pulse of what is concerning the community, discuss Biden’s inauguration, and share what is in store for Damayan in 2021.

Care Fund Closes Out with Successful Distribution of $275,000+

In January, Damayan successfully distributed the remaining Coronavirus Care Fund to 550 domestic workers! Each debit card was worth $500 so more than $275,000 was distributed to Filipina workers all over the US. With these funds, workers were able to pay rent, buy groceries, and provide for their families. The distribution was a success because Damayan members volunteered their time to be there for their fellow kababayans. 

Damayan Celebrates the 10th Year Anniversary of “Baklas: Break Free from Labor Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery” with Documentary Series

2021 marks the tenth year of Damayan’s campaign, Baklas: Break Free from Labor Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery. To date, Damayan has helped 51 survivors win their T-visas. Out of the 51 survivors, 31 have been reunited with their families (60 children and 17 spouses). 

To advance Baklas, we are highlighting the stories of three Damayan members and labor trafficking survivors who Damayan helped win a T-visa. We hope the documentary series will raise awareness about labor trafficking of Filipino migrant workers, especially trafficked domestic workers in the US, inspire those in similar circumstances to come out of the shadows, and gain broader support from the general American public. The documentary series is produced with the generous support of the Lush Foundation. 

Damayan Partners with Barnard Engages to Chronicle the Impact of Covid-19 on Filipino Migrant Workers in New York

Damayan partnered with Barnard Engages, a program at Barnard College, to chronicle the disproportionate impact the pandemic has had on Filipino migrant workers living in New York and the support Damayan has provided. Damayan has been at the forefront of the effort to provide critical support to members during the pandemic. There will be a joint public launch of our final report in April 2021. We ask you to mark your calendars to be a part of this special launch.

The Damayan Dispatch Member Spotlight is a monthly feature that highlights Damayan’s active members. This month we are featuring Jhean Basco! A long-time domestic worker, she has volunteered for Damayan throughout the pandemic by doing phone outreach to hundreds of members for Damayan’s food and financial assistance, helping to organize food distribution events during the summer, recruiting community members to Damayan, and assisting members to connect with housing attorneys and social services. Mabuhay ka, Ate Jhean! Long live, Ate Jhean!

Saturday, March 13, 6pm: Damayan Online Public Webinar

Please join us through Zoom and Facebook Live as our guest attorney speaker discusses the immigration law and policy of the Biden Administration. We’ll also have a guest doctor speaker present about the Covid vaccine and a member’s experience with taking the vaccine.

Saturday, March 20, 6pm: Damayan New Member Online Orientation

Please join us through Zoom if you’re a new Damayan member or are planning to become a member! Come learn about Damayan’s mission, programs, and how you can get involved in this vibrant organization!