在新加坡的建国历史中，漂洋过海南来谋生的估俚（苦力）曾立下不少汗马功劳。他们大多在火锯厂、造船厂和码头工作，干的都是体力活，他们寄居的宿舍，就叫估俚间。苦力与估俚间，是早期华人移民生活的缩影。
时过境迁，估俚间已逐渐走进历史，如今还在的苦力，大多也已是八九十岁的老人。他们生活在估俚间的故事，是建国历史的重要一页，具有挖掘、记录、传播的价值和意义。去年，为配合新加坡开埠200周年，新加坡晋江会馆特编写出版《江河情缘—新加坡晋邑估俚间的故事》一书，收集记录本地早期晋邑估俚间的故事。
讲座将娓娓道来先辈们这段血泪交织的奋斗史。
The early history of Singapore saw significant contributions by coolies who left their homeland and headed south by sea. Most worked as physical labourers in the sawmills, shipyards and piers, and stayed in hostels known as coolie houses—a microcosm of the lives of early Chinese immigrants.
With the tides of time, coolie houses have faded into history. Surviving coolies are currently in their 80s or 90s. Stories of the coolies’ lives remain an important chapter in our country’s history. Last year, Chinese clan association Chin Kang Huay Kwan edited and published a book titled “Jiang He Qing Yuan” (Love of the rivers—the stories of the coolies from Jinjiang in the coolie houses). This is a collection and record of the stories of the early immigrants from Jinjiang. The speaker will share about the contribution of coolies to our nation.
Speaker:
主讲：彭丽儿，《江河情缘》主编
Peng Lee Er, editor of “Jiang He Qing Yuan” (Love of the Rivers), a book on coolies in Singapore