In fact, grassroots organisations are also giving them training in areas like first aid and emergency preparedness.

There are about 500,000 foreign workers in Singapore.

The community groups, which put these training sessions together with the help of relevant agencies, say it is a good way to bridge the gap between foreign workers and residents.

Yesterday, Nee Soon South grassroots organisations launched their Safety, Security Watch Group made up of 30 foreign workers living in Tagore Industrial Estate, near Upper Thomson Road.

The estate houses more than 3,000 workers from different companies and six countries including Bangladesh, Indonesia and China.

Teaming up with the National Environment Agency, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force, the community bodies taught a selected group of foreign workers skills in dengue prevention, emergency preparedness and crime prevention.

For example, the workers learn how to do cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), who to alert if they see a suspicious person loitering around their estate, and how to deal with the dengue-carrying Aedes mosquito.

These workers are then encouraged to teach their new skills to their friends.

Said Mr Tony Guan, organising chairman of the coordinating committee: 'They ought to be part of the community... But it's not just us who should be teaching such issues. We want to get the workers' companies involved.'

Over at Bedok Reservoir yesterday afternoon, foreign workers trained in evacuation procedures pitched in with residents of Block 128 who were taking part in a simulated bomb blast at the void deck.

The 'bomb blast' was part of Home Team Eastern Sector Kampung Spirit, held to raise awareness of community involvement in case of an emergency.

Of the 9,000 foreign workers housed in three dormitories in Eunos, 42 are now trained in evacuation procedures and understanding local culture, among other things.

Some workers like Mr Prabu Mani, 26, a foreign worker from Tamil Nadu, India, accompany grassroots leaders on their block walkabouts at night.

On these visits, they act as translators and advocates of good behaviour when they see other foreign workers talking loudly on their mobile phones or drinking alcohol at the void deck.

Said Mr Prabu, who has been here for three years: 'I help out. I like to do social service work.'

mariaa@sph.com.sg