Radio helps reunite maid with family after 9yrs

Ajman - "Home for Eid" programme of Ajman-based Malayalam channel Gold 101.3 paved the way for all the winners to spend a memorable Eid with their families.

This Eid is very special for Shahida, a 62-year-old Indian maid, who has been working in the UAE for 20 years.
Her long-cherished wish to meet her daughters and aged mother, back home has been fulfilled after nine years, thanks to a radio programme that reunited needy expat listeners with their families for Eid.
While the "Home for Eid" programme of Ajman-based Malayalam channel Gold 101.3 FM, part of Channel 4 Radio Network, paved the way for all the winners to spend a memorable Eid with their families, Shahida has got a bonus gift through the initiative.
Her story went viral on social media after RJ Vysakh, from of the radio station, wrote about her. Shahida and she is now inching closer to fulfill her dream to build a small house to spend the rest of her life after retiring from her job in the UAE.
Shahida had to sell everything that she had earned including her house to marry off her three daughters. It was in 2006 that she last visited her family in the south Indian state of Kerala for her youngest daughter's wedding.
She could not go home again, even when her husband and father died because she had heaps of debts to clear.
With the salary and support from the Emirati family that she has been serving, Shahida has now managed to clear her debts.
But, a small home to spend her retired life by teaching Quran to children in her neighbourhood still remains a distant dream.
When she narrated this story on air on Thursday, the RJ was touched and wrote about it on his Facebook page.
"Every day, we complain about so many things.from slow Internet connection to salaries not increasing, not being able to change the car or even for the colour of the new dress fading," RJ Vysakh said.
"When you compare your complaints and issues with the struggle she and people like her have had, you will start thinking of life from a different perspective. She has moved my heart and I'm thankful to her for teaching me some new valuable lessons in life."
His post on Facebook caught the attention of Malayalam film actor Suresh Gopi. He contacted the channel and promised to support Shahida in buying a plot for building her home. "He has already offered a support of Indian INR2,00000 for her. Galleria Entertainments in Dubai has also offered another INR3,00 000," RJVysakh told Khaleej Times on Sunday.
Several other listeners and followers have been contacting the radio station with promises to support Shahida.
"We are just waiting for her to come back after the Eid holidays with her family to channelise all these offers for fulfilling her dream."
sajila@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Ajman