Story of Che Zahara
Che Zahara 1907-1962 (Social Welfare)
Desker Road/Kampong Gelam
At a time when many women and children became widows and orphans, Che Zahara Binte Noor Mohamad was a beacon of hope. She was a social welfare heroine in the post-war days when many Malay women and children were destitute. Amongst her noble efforts were housing orphans and women in her house at 49 and 51 Desker R
oad and making a public appeal in the form of a booklet, requesting donations from local and international communities to establish a shelter. Being the president of her own establishment, the Malay Women’s Welfare Association also meant that she was a guardian of the unfortunate. Her relentless efforts to save women and children from life on the streets earned her the nickname ‘Che Zahara Kaum Ibu’, which translates to ‘Che Zahara who protected women and children’. In 2014, she was awarded a place in the inaugural list of inductees for the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame presented by President Tony Tan for her contributions to the country.
