Deepavali brings university breakthrough for orphaned son after mother's 16-year sacrifice
BUKIT MERTAJAM: A single mother's 16-year sacrifice has culminated in a heartwarming Deepavali milestone, with her orphaned son finally securing a place at university after an appeal overturned a missed admission deadline.
In a heartwarming tale of perseverance and community spirit, a single mother's 16-year fight for her orphaned son's university admission has finally paid off, culminating in a Deepavali milestone. Dayvesh, who lost his father at the age of two, faced an uphill battle as his mother, Tata, worked tirelessly to support their family.
Tata juggled two jobs - cleaning clinics during the day and scavenging for recyclable materials to earn extra income. By evening, she would tuck away every single sen into a savings tin, hoping to secure her son's future.
However, a roadblock loomed when Dayvesh's mobile phone suddenly stopped working, causing him to miss the university's admission deadline. Just when all hope seemed lost, Dayvesh's mother approached Steven Sim, the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister and Bukit Mertajam member of parliament, for help. Sim immediately launched an appeal to the university on her behalf.
The university accepted the appeal, allowing Dayvesh to secure a place at university, fulfilling the dream his mother had worked toward for over a decade.
To celebrate this momentous occasion during Deepavali, a multiracial group of youths, mentored by Sim, surprised the family with a pre-festival shopping trip. The youths had raised the money themselves by organizing community charity stalls, showcasing their philanthropic spirit. For Tata, it was the first time in years that she had new clothes to wear for the celebration. The youths then gathered at the family's home for an impromptu celebration, with Sim making an unannounced visit.
Touched by the youths' initiative, one of them, Zulaikha, even asked to adopt Dayvesh as their younger brother, forging a new bond across cultures. Sim shared how the youths had raised the money themselves, rather than asking him to fund the initiative, emphasizing the empathy and goodwill of the community. The gathering was filled with laughter and warmth, highlighting the resilience and unity of the family and the community.
Sim expressed his gratitude, stating that the youths exemplified the Malaysia he had always dreamed of, where good deeds and compassion are the driving forces.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
