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SINGAPORE – When she and her husband divorced about 17 years ago, Madam Jamalia Shariff felt her whole world come crashing down.
She was left without a home and for six months, she and her three teenage children had to move from relative to relative, before she found a rental flat in Chai Chee to start rebuilding her life.
With only primary school education, Madam Jamalia did not have an easy time finding a job. She eventually started work as a housekeeper, earning $500 monthly.
Now 64, her resilience and patience paid off, with her children now finding successful careers. Her eldest son works in the service sector, while her second son is an entrepreneur. Her youngest child, a daughter, is a doctor at Changi General Hospital.
Madam Jamalia’s story won her this year’s Exemplary Mother Award (EMA), given every year by Jamiyah Singapore to a mother who has shown resilience in overcoming life’s challenges.
Chosen by a judging panel from 10 nominees, Madam Jamalia received her award in a ceremony at the Swissotel The Stamford on Saturday (Oct 5) from President Halimah Yacob.
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