Maid’s daughter beats the odds to become Dubai lecturer

November 24, 2016

Dubai, Nov 24: Shahra Jafar Ali, a housemaid’s daughter who secured a full scholarship at Murdoch University in 2013, has graduated with distinction in two majors. What is more, last week she has landed a job as a lecturer at the university.

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Only three years ago, the Indian teenager despite having a brilliant academic record faced a bleak future as lack of funds threatened to cut short her education.

Shahra had won plenty of trophies and awards for sports and academics, but she, a grade 12 student then, could not think of a college life as her mother could not afford the tuition fees.

A report in XPRESS highlighting Shahra’s plight, however, changed all that. She secured a full scholarship with Murdoch University for an under-graduate course in Computer Science.

Vice Chancellor’s award

Fast-forward, Shahra is a double graduate with distinction and recipient of the Vice Chancellor’s award for academic excellence in Information Technology (IT).

“Destiny may have favoured this young girl, but nobody can take away the fact that she worked hard to get where she is today. She did not forget the huge favour bestowed on her. And she worked doubly hard to show her worth. Shahra is naturally brilliant, but I do not know of another student in the IT course who worked harder,” said Dan Adkins, Academic Director – Murdoch University Dubai and COO of Global Institute Management.

“She did not miss a day at college and would come to college at 9am and leave by 6pm. In her last year, she was learning programming, operating systems and data base and had built a solid foundation,” Atkins told XPRESS.

Shahra has now secured a full time job as a lecturer at the university.

“It is like a dream come true, I cannot express my happiness in words. Three years ago I had no direction in life. I did not know where life was going to take me. There was no money in the house, our visa status unsure. Today thanks to Murdoch University, there is a purpose in my life. I have a job and am able to support my family. That is a huge thing,” said Shahra.

“My brother has been given a scholarship and 75 per cent of his tuition fees have been taken care of. The rest I am paying. Currently I am teaching foundation students – the basics of computers. Gradually I hope to progress in my job and sponsor my mother and brothers.”

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Shahra Jafar Ali with her family at the graduation ceremony

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Agencies
February 16,2020

Al-Jawf, Feb 16: At least 31 people were killed and 12 others were injured here in the al-Maslub district in airstrikes by the Saudi-UAE-led military coalition on Saturday.

"Preliminary field reports indicate that as many as 31 civilians were killed and 12 others injured in strikes that hit al-Hayjah area of the al-Maslub district in al-Jawf governorate," said a statement from the office of the UN resident coordinator and humanitarian coordinator for Yemen.

According to Al Jazeera, the airstrike was conducted hours after the Yemeni Houthis said that they downed a Saudi fighter jet in the same region.

Commenting on the air raids, Lise Grande, the UN's humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, said: "We share our deep condolences with the families of those killed and we pray for the speedy recovery of everyone who has been injured in these terrible strikes."

"So many people are being killed in Yemen - it's a tragedy and it's unjustified. Under international humanitarian law, parties that resort to force is obligated to protect civilians," Grande was quoted as saying.

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News Network
April 20,2020

Riyadh, Apr 20: Six more people have died in Saudi Arabia after contracting coronavirus as 1,122 new coronavirus cases were reported on Monday.

The Saudi health ministry said that total number of cases in the Kingdom had increased to 10,484. It also recorded 92 new recoveries, raising the total to 1,490.

The ministry said precautionary measures shall remain to limit the virus spread.

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News Network
May 7,2020

Dubai, May 7: The holy month of Ramadan is expected to be a 30-day month this year, said Ibrahim Al Jarwan, member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences.

According to Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm, he said that Sunday, May 24, will mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal.

Additionally, he said that the crescent of Shawwal will occur on Friday, May 22, at 9.39pm, after sunset, and will be visible on Sunday, May 24, the beginning of Shawal, which makes Ramadan a 30-day month this year.

He added that the next Ramadan is expected to start on April 13, 2021, and the one after that on April 2, 2022.

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