“The livelihood support of Rs. 25,000 to start a small shop has helped my family to recover from the debt and put back my children to education”, expressed Ms. Julia Mary.
My husband, Mr. Louis, was working overseas in Dubai since 2010. His salary was low. He moved to various places in Qatar, and Kuwait in search of a better salary. After working in Qatar for four years, unable to find a decent job, he returned to India and started painting work in the village. That is when a contract agency in Nagercoil gave him an offer to work in Cambodia. We arranged and paid the agent Rs. 2,80,000 to get his visa and work permit. The agent had promised to place him in an office as a supervisor but finally, he was put in menial jobs with a low salary. He wanted to run back home. I had to arrange money for his return to India. We had lost all our savings to the agent and had no other way other than to borrow money from moneylenders with high interest. This incident broke him mentally and he suffered paralysis in August 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. I took him to all possible hospitals and the best of doctors but all in vain. In the process, our debts increased, and I had no choice except to mortgage my house. The education of my children was at stake. The financial pressure was mounting on me every day.
At this moment, Jesuit Migrant Ministry External (JMMEx), an organisation run by the Jesuits came forward with a ray of hope in my life and supported me with Rs. 25,000 to start a small shop. It has been a few months and my business has already gained momentum. I am very much grateful to JMMEx and Caritas Germany for extending solidarity and standing by me in my darkest hours.
Fr. Velz SJ
Director,JMMEx