John Francis Angel
Filipino, 27, administrative officer
Income: Dh3,000 per month
What I won: Weekly mega gold prize of 5 kilos worth around Dh680,000
What I did with it: “It was a life-changing moment. I have a big family with seven other siblings. It was a very tough situation back home and winning five kilos of gold was a big deal for us. The first thing I did with the money was gift my siblings Dh8,000 each. Two years ago my father was diagnosed with cancer and my sister (Emily Estrada) who works in Dubai was funding all his medical costs. She had borrowed Dh50,000 against her credit card, which I fully settled.
I know the feeling of not having money and so I am very careful not to splurge it. I have saved Dh70,000 in National Bonds and taken an education plan for my one-month-old girl. I have kept two gold coins (two kilos) in the locker for future. If there is anything I have indulged in, it is on branded footwear. I bought 27 pairs of Nike and Jordan shoes costing around Dh800 a pair.
Abdul Aziz Abdul Shukoor
Bangladeshi, 36, public relations executive
Income: Dh6,000 per month
What I won: Nissan Mega raffle – Nissan TIIDA priced Dh53,000
Abdul Aziz Abdul Shukoor with his children.
What I did with it: My children’s school fees were pending for some time and I used this money to pay off all the dues. It was a real blessing. I also used some part of the money to help five distressed families in Ajman last Ramadan. My parents live with me and I have a lot of responsibilities. I have kept half of the money in the bank for future expenses.
Mohammad Khorshed Alam
Bangladeshi, 25, restaurant worker
Income: Dh2,000 per month
What I won: Nissan Mega Raffle worth Dh150,000
Mohammad Khorshed Alam
What I did with it: It has been my dream to build a house for my parents. Being the oldest of three children, all my salary goes towards educating my younger brother and sister. There is never any money left to save – let alone buy a house. Last year I purchased some groceries at a store and the Nissan raffle coupon just came along. Little did I think this would change my life forever. When I got a call from the festival organisers, I was elated. I have bought a plot in Chittagong where I am building a four-bedroom villa for my family. It’s a miracle!
Sher Bahadur Chettri & Rishi Bhusal
Nepali (both), 34, driver and 28, technician
What we won: Infiniti Mega Raffle worth Dh350,000
Rishi Bhusal (left), with Sher Bahadur
What we did with it (Sher Bahadur): Last year, I purchased four coupons, but did not win anything. My friend, Rishi suggested we try one last time and on the last day we bought a ticket together. When I got a call saying we had won, I thought it was a hoax. But when they gave me the ticket number I recognised it. We split the prize money and I bought a land in Chitwan (Nepal)as investment.
Rishi Bhusal: I used the money to buy a plot of land in Lumbini (Nepal) to build a house of my own – which has been my dream. People work for years to save money and buy land in Nepal. We did it in a span of a week. This is called good luck!
Girish Kumar
Indian, 39, store clerk
Income: Dh1,500 per month
What I won: Infiniti Mega Raffle worth Dh350,000
What I did with it: Every year I buy three coupons. Last year I got lucky! It was a very big win as Dh350,000 is a huge sum of money – I had never seen this kind of money before.
Girish Kumar
When I got a call from the organisers saying I had won, I could not believe my ears. I immediately decided to set aside a part of the winnings to help needy families in India. The first thing I did when I got the money was sponsor a day’s meal for 52 people – the cleaning staff and security personnel – in my office. I am currently helping six families in India, financing the children’s education and the marriage expenses of their daughters. I also donated new clothes to an old age home in Kerala – something I had been thinking of doing since many years. Besides these, I invested in two retail shops and bought a two-bedroom apartment in Alleppey district, Kerala. My life is sorted.
