Mr Shameer, 41, lives with his wife and four school-going children. Two of his children suffer from severe eczema and are on long term medication. Due to their constant medical needs and a loss of income during covid, Mr Shameer had to take up a loan to sustain a living while caring for his children. Bringing home $2,500 as a security guard now, the bulk of his salary goes to repaying his loans. 

Ray of Hope is raising $2,250 ($450 x 5 months) to defray Mr Shameer’s expenses for his children’s milk and diapers.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many working citizens were faced with wage cuts or the possibility of being dismissed from their jobs. 41-year-old Mr Shameer was one of those who were affected by the pandemic. Prior to this, he was working as a security guard and was able to provide a comfortable life for his family. 

When covid hit, he was forced to take up lesser shifts which resulted in a significant decrease in his salary. In addition, two of his children suffer from severe eczema and require constant medical attention. Last year, their condition worsened giving them constant rashes and irritation. Hence, he took up a loan to help provide for his family during this dire situation. Since then, it has been challenging to provide for his family as the bulk of his salary goes to repaying the loans. 

Mr Shameer’s wife is working as an operator but suffers from chronic wrist pain and stomach issues. Due to her medical conditions, she has trouble returning to work. Last year, she went through a gastrectomy surgery and is still recovering from it. The couple has outstanding loans of approximately $16,000 and are working tirelessly to clear them. 

Mr Shameer shared with our case worker that he worries about not being able to provide for their children, three of which are still on milk and diapers. He hopes to take up more shifts as things are slowly opening up at his workplace. 

*Mr Shameer’s family is not receiving financial support from the government.