The content creator, who goes by Donjany, said he wanted to provide the migrant workers with a unique experience of Singapore. SINGAPORE – To show appreciation to migrant workers, one Singaporean made it his mission to celebrate them - and Singapore’s birthday - by giving them free haircuts. In a Tiktok video posted on Aug 9 - Singapore’s 59th National Day - content creator and entrepreneur Muhammad Noor Tijany Nezam, known better as Donjany, approached 59 migrant workers in Woodlands and took them to Thuglife Studio, a barber shop in the area.
There, they had their hair cut and styled for free. He can be seen in the video engaging in conversation and banter with the workers, asking them how long they have worked in Singapore, and whether they have any messages for their families back home. As at 11pm on Aug 11, the video has amassed over 93,000 views, and over 12,000 likes.
Mr Tijany told The Straits Times that he and his business partner Hamzah Salim - the pair co-founded Islamic company Al-Fajr - wanted to provide the migrant workers with a unique experience they could fondly look back on. “Giving them a free haircut is something different,” said Mr Tijany, 25, who added that the barber shop absorbed the costs of the haircuts. “We want them to have a specific memory so that when these migrant workers return to their families in their home countries, they will (remember this) about Singapore.
” In another TikTok video, posted on Aug 2, Mr Tijany is seen distributing drinks by beverage brand Pokka to 59 migrant workers near his office in Ubi TechPark. He told ST that Pokka provided the bottles to be distributed for free. In 2023, Mr Tijany had marked Singapore’s 58th National Day by distributing $58 worth of free food and drinks to migrant workers.
He said he chose to show his gratitude to migrant workers after noticing groups of them, near his office, head off to work on lorries early in the morning and return late at night. “Every year during National Day, we celebrate the Malay, Chinese, and Indian races, but I think we tend to overlook the presence of migrant workers,” said Mr Tijany. “Migrant workers give a lot to Singapore and I think National Day is the best time for us to show them that we appreciate it.
” 59 migrant workers FREE HAIRCUT! Happy National Day Singapore! Thank you @thuglifestudiosg for the support 🇸🇬🫶 His efforts in acknowledging a group of people who he describes as having “played a part in building Singapore” have had their desired effect. In comments on his videos, Singaporeans have also shared their gratitude, and how they felt moved by his actions. “Kindness begets kindness.
Thank you to all the migrant workers for building, and toiling in, (Singapore),” said one user. “So heartwarming to see a fellow young Singaporean doing this,” said another. Mr Tijany said that he was touched himself by some of the reactions of the migrant workers he met, whom he also handed out small Singapore flags to.
“When I gave out the flags, one of them tied it to the side mirror of his lorry,” he said. “When I saw that, I thought: ‘He’s not Singaporean but he has (so much) pride of working in Singapore (that) he put the flag on his lorry’. “And at the barber shop, the migrant workers were waving the flags and taking pictures outside the shop.
.. It was a beautiful atmosphere.
” 59 bottles of @POKKASG drinks for migrant workers! Write in your “thank you” message in the link on my bio. Thank you @pokkasg @Alfajr.sg for the support 🇸🇬🇸🇬🇸🇬 Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now.
