Mother rebuilds life, then helps others in need
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In Woodlands, Singapore, Zarina Jaffar is supporting hundreds of people through the 3R Recycle Sharing is Caring Facebook group, offering groceries, financial aid, and advice.
After her husband died in 2008, leaving her to raise three children alone, Ms. Zarina experienced needing help herself and resolved to offer support that empowered people to get back on their feet.
She initially shared excess food with neighbours, which grew into a network of volunteers assisting people with basic necessities and navigating difficult situations. Ms. Zarina prioritises understanding individual circumstances, sometimes firmly challenging those who seek assistance without effort. She remembers one family who seemed financially stable but were struggling with a child’s leukemia, and she believes everyone faces difficult phases in life.
This approach stems from her own experiences advocating for her son after he had a run-in with the law, persistently seeking opportunities for him despite his past conviction. The 3R group unexpectedly brought Ms. Zarina a second chance at love when she met Abdul Halim Sam, a volunteer delivery driver, through the platform. They married in 2021 and are now embraced by her family. Though she is considering slowing down at age 58, Ms.
Zarina finds purpose in her work and sees helping others as her life’s passion, even as she acknowledges the time commitment sometimes pulls her away from her own family.
