Bridget Tan, a prominent Catholic migrants rights advocate in Singapore and founder of Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics or HOME, died on April 18 at the age of 73.
In a statement, HOME described Tan as “a tireless supporter and champion of the rights of migrant workers” and “a true friend as well as an ally of migrants.”
“She always listened to and gave a hand to people in need,” read the group’s statement.
Tan was born in 1948, the third of four children.
She was educated in the Chij convent of Katong, a local Catholic institution, and later worked in the social and human resources sector until her retirement.
She was active in he volunteer work with the pastoral care of migrants in the Archdiocese of Singapore.
She established the foundation of HOME in 2004 to provide assistance and legal protection to migrants.
For her work, Tan was been honored over the years by the Asia Society, the US State Department, and the governments of Thailand and the Philippines.
In a 2011 interview, Tan said that she “heard the call of God” when she made a personal commitment be part of a diocesan commission that will help people through various programs.
Since its foundation, HOME has expanded its activities to supporting victims of sexual slavery and human trafficking.
In a statement, the organization said Tan “was instrumental” in the group’s various programs not only for migrants.
