Jobless and in debt with no means to support his growing family

Jafar and his wife married overseas and migrated to Australia looking for a better life, but a number of issues back home made it difficult for them to go back and so they have been on a protection visa ever since. To continue with living in Australia, Jafar started working multiple shifts as an Uber driver and in a local café to provide for his growing family.  

Jafar’s story is reflective of many that have been hit by the social and financial impacts of COVID-19 time and time again for the past 2 years. Last year, he approached NZF for assistance with his rental payments and solving his rental debt as he wasn’t earning enough to keep up with his expenses despite working multiple jobs. However, calamity struck twice as hard this year as he was left jobless without any income because of lockdown surges throughout the state with a rental debt to keep up with. During this time, he found that his wife was pregnant which became bittersweet as they both learnt that this is a high-risk pregnancy, and she would also have to stop working until her condition was better. 

Jobless, in debt and with a pregnant wife to provide for, Jafar was losing hope and worried that all his hardwork from last year would be for nothing. He wasn’t entitled to any Government benefits or aid in the financial, rental, or medical services due to being on a protection visa. So he reached out to the caseworkers at NZF once again with the hopes of finding a solution as they did before. Jafar and his wife were provided emergency financial aid and food vouchers to help them keep going until the state opens again. We were also able to get in touch with his rental agent and landlord to find that they were very happy with helping with his rental debt as he has been paying his rent on time.  

The story of Jafar and his wife is evident of the provision and blessings that Allah provides through ways we would have never even thought of. Alhamdulillah, with the support provided through the community’s generous donations, Jafar and his wife are now able to look forward to having their baby in a safe home and returning to work properly as the world slowly opens up from its COVID-19 slumber.