‘Our bank accounts were frozen’

Dubai: Faced with an uncertain future and loans due to a new business, Cheryl Jason didn’t know where to turn.

The Pakistani expatriate along with her husband Jason John had set up a small business, trading in technical parts. They sold their assets in their native country to raise capital and took additional loans.

A year into business, a traffic offence led to John’s imprisonment. The bank accounts were frozen. Cheryl told Gulf News, “For nearly four months, I didn’t have a support system. Things got so bad that I couldn’t afford groceries. I didn’t even know how long my husband would be in prison.”

Help from volunteers

During the imprisonment, life became increasingly difficult. “We don’t have a network of family or friends in the UAE. I could reach out to only a handful of people,” she said.

The volunteers from the Prison Ministry Upper Room, associated with the St Michael’s Church, Sharjah, met John during their weekly visits.

One of the volunteers told Gulf News, “He [John] explained what happened and requested us to help out.”

Looking back, John, who has been released, told Gulf News, “My biggest worry was my wife.”

He said, “Because of the imprisonment, our bank accounts were frozen, which meant my wife didn’t have any money to survive. I was worried how she was going to manage on her own.” Cheryl told John that volunteers are helping her with day-to-day survival.

John said, “I was grateful for the aid [offered to my wife]. However, it was difficult for me to accept the reality.” Deeply moved by the support, the couple now assists the volunteer group in other activities.