--- title: "Ex-SQ stewardess, 27, followed in mother’s footsteps as cabin crew, now trades wings for social work" url: "/community-voices/ex-sq-stewardess-27-followed-mothers-footsteps-cabin-crew-now-trades-wings-social-work" published: "2026-11-02T09:09:03.000Z" updated: "2026-11-02T09:14:45.000Z" section: "Community Voices" authors: ["Cherry Tan"] tags: ["community voices","Singapore Airlines","Life After Landing","air stewardess","child safety","MSF"] --- # Ex-SQ stewardess, 27, followed in mother’s footsteps as cabin crew, now trades wings for social work *After two years as an SQ stewardess, Syafirah Helmi, 27, became a child protection officer at MSF, finding purpose in helping vulnerable children.* For many cabin crew, stepping off the aircraft is just the beginning of a new journey. Introducing Stomp’s new original series, Life After Landing, where we spotlight former flight attendants who have traded the skies for unexpected careers, pursued personal passions or navigated life-changing experiences after leaving the aviation industry. Growing up, Syafirah Helmi’s mother regaled her with tales of travelling to new cities as a flight attendant. Her mother used to fly with Cathay Pacific, and hearing those stories left Syafirah so inspired that she eventually followed in her footsteps. “I was very inspired by my mum. I heard a lot of stories regarding the job that she did and all the wonderful experiences she went through,” the 27-year-old shared. Determined to live her dream as a flight stewardess, Syafirah went on to join Singapore Airlines (SQ) in 2023 after graduating from Nanyang Technological University with a degree in sociology. She stayed with the airline for about two years, before joining the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) as a child protection officer in the pursuit of a more impactful career in social work. “It’s very meaningful, but it does have its own set of challenges that come with it,” she said. ## The allure of travel and elegance Before joining SQ, Syafirah recalled being fascinated by the way cabin crew carried themselves. “They always looked very poised, elegant, very calm and composed, so that really drew me into trying to be one myself,” she added. Aviation clearly runs in the family. Speaking to Stomp, Syafirah shared that besides being inspired by her mother, her father also works as an officer with Changi Airport Group. ![Ex-stewardess left SQ to become child protection officer at MSF for ‘deeper meaning and purpose’](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/68f490fd2191e562d1649e9781f6af6af9117176603cda64345c09a4082d65f9) *Syafirah was a stewardess with Singapore Airlines for about two years.* Describing herself as family-oriented, Syafirah admitted she struggled not just with adapting to a new crew on every flight, but also with missing important family events. The former stewardess recalled missing family dinners on Hari Raya eve due to her flight roster, tearing up as she spoke of being away when close family members died. Though she had always known she did not want to be an air stewardess “forever”, Syafirah said it was a “build-up” and “mixture of different things” that made her realise it was time for a career change. “I did a lot of reflection and I (saw) myself settling down into a more grounded job. I wanted something with a deeper meaning as well as a sense of purpose,” she shared. Leaving aviation would also mean that she could be more present for her family. “I decided two years was plenty for me,” she remarked. ## Her first case as a child protection officer She may only be less than a year into her job as a child protection officer, but Syafirah’s first case is one that has already imprinted itself into her mind. At her first meeting with a baby’s mother and grandmother, the pair were not pleased to see her. “(The) mum passed out and grandma started having shortness of breath,” she recounted. As it was Syafirah’s first encounter with a client, their reactions shocked her. She added that the baby’s mother had also stormed out of a room while they were mid-conversation. The social worker surmised that the women were worried that she was there to “take away their baby”. However, Syafirah stressed that the role of MSF’s child protection officers is far from separating children from their parents, but instead to reintegrate children with their families. This necessarily entails an assessment that the environment is safe for children to return. Over time — and after patiently explaining that her role is to ensure the baby’s safety — the family softened their stance towards Syafirah. ![Ex-stewardess left SQ to become child protection officer at MSF for ‘deeper meaning and purpose’](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/b6cdd2b174fd2bd32e470543e857cf74b023781b4a2cbc2a07ba275d9d6e5cf2) *Syafirah stressed that far from separating children from their parents, her role is to reintegrate children with their families.* “Our conversations got a bit more light-hearted, and recently they also invited me to the baby’s first birthday party,” she shared with a smile. “Every time I see the baby, she’s very happy and well cared for, so I’m happy to see the progress that the family has been making.” ## From the skies to protecting children Though she’s only been with MSF full-time since the start of 2026, Syafirah has an internship stint with the agency under her belt — something that she tried in university after hearing about her peers’ positive internship experiences. Before entering her current role, Syafirah spoke to her former coworkers to find out more about being a child protection officer. Based on what she learned, she felt the job would be a fulfilling one. “Looking at the children, some (of them) are facing circumstances that are not very good for them,” she explained. “It really makes me feel motivated to help them, especially when I have nieces and nephews who I can’t imagine anything bad happening to,” added Syafirah. Though that may make the work emotional, the child protection officer stressed the importance of separating her feelings from her work. Syafirah also admitted that while her role is not easy, it is important to keep a “healthy” mind when approaching every family instead of judging them for their circumstances. “It is important to (have) a willingness to listen to their struggles and help them create pathways to solve problems they have,” she explained. What keeps her going in her job — and her favourite part of it — is naturally, the children. “It’s always very heartening to hear the stories that they have, and sometimes when they meet me, they are very happy (and) excited. Some of them will even run up to hug you and tell you about their days,” she gushed. ## Flying without regrets While the former flight attendant appears well adjusted in her role as a child protection officer, there are days where she misses her previous job and being able to don SQ’s iconic kebaya. ![Ex-stewardess left SQ to become child protection officer at MSF for ‘deeper meaning and purpose’](https://cassette.sphdigital.com.sg/image/stomp/7198b6587d050ef747f86c69c0e523e5beb8de6d52a845c0f951a1ffc014914f) *Syafirah said she was drawn to becoming a cabin crew member in part because her mother, a former flight attendant herself, would tell Syafirah stories about her travels.* In fact, if she had a do-over, she would still choose being an air stewardess as her first job. “I think it was a good decision that I made. I was a bit younger and I still had time to figure things out,” she explained, adding that her self-confidence grew in the role. If someone she knows is keen to learn how to carry themselves better, meet people from all over the world and travel widely, Syafirah’s advice is simple: “Give it a go.”