A quiet man, Wilson doesn’t talk much about what he’s lost because of life’s circumstances, but he continues holding on to hope. 

Unexpected Retrenchment For 50 year old Wilson 

Wilson is a single father in his 50s, living with his son who is in primary school, his elderly mother, his wheelchair-bound father and an elder brother. Until February 2025, he worked as a part-time admin officer for more than a decade while running his home-based facial business. Unfortunately, in February this year, Wilson was retrenched from his part-time admin job.

When Wilson was retrenched, he tried to stay hopeful. “I wasn’t sure if I could get another job at my age,” he shared. Hoping to grow what he had left, he placed his retrenchment payout into an investment platform.

It was a scam. He lost over $100,000. 

Then came a second blow. Someone called, claiming his identity had been compromised. Panicked and still shaken from the first loss, hoping to safeguard whatever little savings he has,  Wilson was scammed of $4,000 again—this time by people impersonating officials from local institutions that would “resolve” the issue.

“They approached me at my weakest moment,” he said.

The financial loss devastated Wilson. He felt that he was on the brink of depression. But he also knew he had to keep going for his son and his parents.

Now, the savings are gone. And Wilson is doing everything he can to prevent that loss from defining the future for his son.

How He’s Trying To Turn His Side Business Into a Lifeline

Since 2008, Wilson has run a part-time home-based facial therapy business. Trained as an aesthetician, he started it out of a quiet passion: “to help people look better.” Over the years, he built a loyal base of regular customers.

Now, with no other job, he’s turned this side business into his full-time work. He earns about $1,500 a month, barely enough to stretch across three generations in the household.

He’s doing everything he can to grow it: posting more marketing content on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and reaching out to former customers on WhatsApp. “It’s what has never failed me,” he says about his small business, and thus, he strives to keep it going.

He has also applied for other part-time jobs in hopes of supplementing his current earnings from his home-based business, but so far, he has not received any callbacks, likely due to his age.

Living Costs Have Been Cut to Bare Minimum

Since being scammed, the family has had to work with half of their usual grocery allowance, from $800 a month to $500, sometimes less. 

The family has pared back on everything: eating at home, buying only the cheapest ingredients, and relying on frozen instead of fresh meat. For recreation, they walk to nearby parks to avoid spending on public transport. His son, wise beyond his years, even reflected instead of complaining: “Walking trains the legs too.”

Pushing On Though the Future Feels Unclear 

Wilson’s current income puts the family in the lowest 10th percentile of the national average. He is barely making ends meet. With his savings depleted and only having a home-based business for income, he can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

While the future is unclear for him, he has a bigger fear: “If I go, what would happen to my son and mother?”

Thus, he tries to stay present and continues to push on for his son. “He is the best thing in my life. Every day is a happy day with him. He never makes me worry. I take it one step at a time. I hope to work day by day until things get better.”

What Your Donation Will Support and Mean to the Family

Ray of Hope is raising $2,400 to support Wilson and his family over the next 6 months.

• – $400/month for groceries (June to November 2025)
• – This support will give the family room to breathe while Wilson grows his customer base and continues his job search.

A Small Gift That Means Stability

Your gift won’t fix everything, but it will help Wilson provide for his son, care for his parents, and keep going. He isn’t asking for a handout. He’s asking for a chance to steady the ground under his feet while he works toward stability.

Your support will help ease the weight he carries alone—and make sure his son and parents are taken care of during this uncertain time.

“As long as I am seeing my family, that is enough,” he says.

Let’s help make sure they have enough.