Heritage hotel 21 Carpenter gives back to migrant workers
Its goal is to raise S$88,000 for HealthServe, a non-profit group that provides access to healthcare for these workers
THE building that houses heritage-boutique hotel 21 Carpenter is one with a storied past.
A combination of four shophouses and a modern five-storey extension, it used to be the location of Chye Hua Seng Wee Kee, a remittance house founded in 1936 by philanthropist Lee Wee Nam and his brothers.
Immigrants not only sent money back to their families from there, they could also pay letter-writers to pen messages to be sent back home.
The hotel has preserved this part of its history: Etched on its aluminium façade are phrases extracted from some of those letters.
With this as a nod to its history, it seems fitting, then, that when 21 Carpenter officially opened in April, it chose non-profit organisation HealthServe – which provides access to healthcare for migrant workers – as its beneficiary.
Tarun Kalra, general manager of 21 Carpenter, said migrant workers helped build Singapore to what it is today: “For many of them, food and housing is relatively accessible through their agent, but medical, dental, and mental healthcare remain less affordable. Therefore, it’s crucial to ensure that these workers receive the same level of care, enabling them to lead dignified lives.”
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Ahead of the hotel’s grand opening, its partners – among them its owner 8M Real Estate and its suppliers – were asked not to send floral displays. “Instead … we requested donations on the giving.sg platform. This was to minimise waste and allocate funds to a meaningful cause,” said Kalra.
The hotel has also been sharing this message with its guests, and directing them to the fundraising website.
“The reason for choosing giving.sg is that it is known for its credibility and robust security measures”, said the general manager.
The one-stop portal for donors is the brainchild of the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), a one-stop portal for all givers and home to almost 500 charities.
NVPC was also instrumental in connecting 21 Carpenter with HealthServe, a charity with IPC (Institution of a Public Character) status.
About S$14,000 has been raised on the platform so far; the hotel’s target is S$88,000 by the fourth quarter of this year.
Dr Benjamin Kuan, chief executive of HealthServe, said: “The funds raised through our collaboration with 21 Carpenter will be directed towards addressing these unmet health and social-care needs. They include providing urgent medical and dental services, casework support for workers recovering from workplace injuries, and larger-scale health screenings and education that aim to empower these migrant workers to better take charge of their own health.”
When asked about impact measurement, he said that beyond tracking and reporting publicly the number of beneficiaries served for each pillar of care, HealthServe has done surveys with foreign workers to assess whether its goals have been met.
Kalra said that the target amount of S$88,000 has historical significance as it would be the building’s 88th anniversary this year.
21 Carpenter has also been intentional in engaging the local community, evident from the local snacks in the room’s bar and the art on display in the hotel, mainly the work of home-grown artists.
They include pieces such as Readers and Writers #1 by Heman Chong, and Khairulddin Wahab’s Visions of Splendor and Dwellers In The Mirage.
Kalra said: “We strongly advocate for local and small businesses for several reasons. Firstly, by sourcing locally, we reduce our carbon footprint by minimising the need for shipping products over long distances.”
He added that the hotel wanted to recognise the talent in the local community, and realised that introducing local touches would give “authentic and unforgettable experiences to our international guests”.
Dr Kuan concurred, saying: “It takes a village to raise a child, just as it takes an entire society to support and uplift a community. For this reason, cross-sector collaborations are crucial as they are key to driving greater community impact. Partnerships between non-profits and corporates allows both sectors to leverage each other’s strengths, addressing key social issues more effectively and sustainably.”
He added that resource sharing brings significant benefits when corporations provide financial support, technology, and expertise that non-profits often lack. This can enhance these charity groups’ effectiveness, reach and scale of the programmes and services.
“For corporations, boosting their corporate social responsibility profiles helps them strengthen brand affinity and loyalty among both external and internal stakeholders, from shareholders and customers to their own employees,” said Dr Kuan.
Donate through 21 Carpenter to HealthServe at giving.sg: https://www.giving.sg/donate/campaign/21-carpenter-for-healthserve
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