Beyond the festivities, a partnership with the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) is helping workers in Singapore develop digital literacy and artificial intelligence skills.
Migrant workers were more than guests at the Indian Institutes of Technology Alumni Association Singapore’s (IITAAS) Deepavali celebration on Oct 24. They were among the evening’s star performers, reflecting a growing partnership aimed at equipping them with digital skills for the future.
The association’s Diwali Dhamaka 2026, held at Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa, brought together IIT alumni, their families, community leaders and migrant workers for an evening of music, dance and festive camaraderie.
A highlight was a spirited Tamil dance performance by the migrant workers, who took centre stage and added a special dimension to the celebrations.
The event was attended by India’s High Commissioner to Singapore, Shilpak Ambule, and NTUC Deputy Secretary-General Cham Hui Fong, representing the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC).
While the guests enjoyed a Punjabi dhol welcome, live Bollywood music, a festive buffet and family activities, the migrant workers’ participation underscored IITAAS’s efforts to make community engagement more meaningful.
The association has partnered with MWC to provide digital literacy and artificial intelligence (AI) training to nearly 1,000 migrant workers for over two years.
Formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 28, the initiative seeks to ensure workers are not left behind as technology transforms workplaces and everyday life.
IITAAS volunteers conduct free training sessions once or twice monthly at the MWC Recreation Club @ Soon Lee in Jurong.
The programme covers foundational digital skills, practical applications of AI and emerging technologies, with the aim of improving productivity, problem-solving abilities and future employment opportunities.
The first session, held on Aug 16, brought together MWC Ambassadors and migrant workers who already play leadership roles within their communities.
Led by IITAAS trainer Gautami Kakaraparthi, the bilingual English-Tamil workshop introduced participants to AI tools including ChatGPT and Gemini.
Rather than concentrating solely on basic functions, the session explored data privacy, differences in AI model accuracy and prompt engineering – the skill of framing questions to obtain useful responses.
Ms Gautami said the participants’ enthusiasm made the workshop particularly fulfilling.
“I really enjoyed how interactive the session was. Rather than just talking about AI in theory, we were able to work through real-life questions and problems together and explore how the tools could actually be useful in day-to-day situations,” she said.
“It was also great to see participants sharing ideas with each other and building on one another’s suggestions.”
IITAAS coordinator Prashant Pandey said the workers demonstrated encouraging technological awareness.
“Their enthusiasm didn’t surprise us, but their level of tech awareness was genuinely promising,” he said. “It feels like we’ve taken the first big step toward our goal of upskilling participants for better career opportunities.”
The initiative has received support from NTUC, the Singapore National Employers Federation and the High Commission of India.
IITAAS develops the training materials and provides volunteer trainers without charge, while MWC and NTUC facilitate venue arrangements and participant outreach.
Mr Sanyam Joshi, First Secretary (Economic) at the HCI, attended the inaugural workshop, demonstrating the mission’s support for the initiative.
MWC’s Head of Partnerships and Networks, Arie Hafiz, described the workshops as a valuable learning experience.
“We are grateful to IITAAS for making their expertise accessible to our migrant worker community and for their commitment to conducting a series of free AI workshops for our Ambassadors,” he said.
The programme has also drawn positive feedback from participants.
MWC Ambassador Jobayer Mohd said the training helped participants discover new ideas and understand how AI could influence their future.
For IITAAS president Dhruv Jain, the partnership reflects a responsibility to ensure technological progress benefits everyone.
He said: “IITAAS is honoured to partner MWC in this effort to uplift migrant workers through digital literacy and practical technology skills. As technology continues to evolve and reshape every industry, no community should be left behind.
“This partnership reflects our belief that technology must empower, not exclude.”
The two-year programme is intended to expand access to practical technological skills.
The Deepavali celebration provided a visible reminder that the partnership extends beyond classrooms and computer screens.
By inviting migrant workers to share the stage with IIT alumni and their families, IITAAS demonstrated that community inclusion and technological empowerment can go hand in hand.
For the workers who danced at Sentosa, the evening was an opportunity not only to celebrate Deepavali but also to be recognised as valued members of Singapore’s wider community.
santosh@sph.com.sg
