A Kiwi-Indian nurse, who was in the country for only one year on a three-year critical purpose work visa has died earlier this morning in Hamilton, leaving the immediate family and the close-knit Malayali community distraught.
According to reliable sources in the community, 31-year-old Divya, who was married to Manoj Jose (both from the Indian state of Kerala) lived in Nawton, Hamilton, suffered a cardiac arrest and had left behind two young children (3 and 2 years old) along with the husband.
Divya was a native of Ramamangalam, Piravam region in the Indian state of Kerala.
Kerala Association of Hamilton – the community group of Malayali people in the Waikato region, is providing all immediate support to the distraught family while simultaneously calling out for an urgent fundraiser through a Givealittle page to bear the exorbitant repatriation costs during current times when a rampant global pandemic has severely escalated the cost of international travel.
Responding to the emotional call for support, the close-knit Malayali community of Hamilton and the wider New Zealand have collected $28,400 from 367 generous donors.
The Givealittle page (https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-divyas-family-in-their-los) is aiming to collect $40,000 to send Divya and her family back to India.
“A beloved member of our community Divya Manoj was tragically taken from us today. We are shocked and heartbroken that a kind soul has been taken, and we feel for her family,” a post from Hamilton Kerala Association on the givealittle page said.
“We would like to help Divya’s family cover some of the costs associated with this extremely sad time. Travel costs are expensive in these COVID times, and we hope to make this difficult time more bearable for her family. The fund will be used for Divya’s funeral and travel expenses back to India. We thank you so much for your support during this devastating time,” the post further said.
Joining the emotional Auckland Malayali Samajam – the community group of Malayali people in the Auckland region – is calling for the wider Kiwi-Indian community to join in this endeavour and support the young family in this extremely distressful hour.
Speaking to the Indian Weekender, Soby Thomas, President, Auckland Malayali Samajam, said, “We are reaching out to our broader Kiwi-Indian community with humble request to extend whatever support they can for this young-family.”
“This is a sad moment for our community to see a young family in such grief and be accompanied with the immense financial burden of being able to return to their native place,” Soby said.
Meanwhile, Sindhu Punnoose, the secretary of Auckland Malayali Samakam told the Indian Weekender they are in close touch with the coordinating team of Hamilton Kerala Association and getting more information around the unfortunate death in the community.
More than $40k generated in fundraising in three hours
The close-knit Malayali community has rallied together with support from the wider Kiwi-Indian community to generate $40k in less than three hours.
Now the target of fundraising has been raised to $60k.
More to come
