Sim Chiyin

They Built This City

They sailed from southern China to Singapore in the early part of the 20th century, working as women construction workers to build some of the first buildings of modern Singapore.

These days, the handful of elderly Samsui women left live independent lives in flats rented from the Government, some in the Redhill neighborhood and others in Tiong Bahru. Held up as icons of tenacity and hard work, these pioneer migrant workers are often asked to put in an appearance at charity events—donning their distinctive red headgear for display—where they get food and hongbao (red packets) in return.

Six of these Samsui women were part of a dance performance paying tribute to them in January 2003. It was put on by Singapore dance company Arts Fission.

Sim Chi Yin is a photographer with particular interest in social causes. She followed these tenacious women as they lived out the rest of their lives in modern Singapore, a city they helped build. See her story here.