Savio Peter Fernandes shared his money with relatives and school teachers in his native India. Courtesy: Emirates Loto
Savio Peter Fernandes shared his money with relatives and school teachers in his native India. Courtesy: Emirates Loto
Savio Peter Fernandes shared his money with relatives and school teachers in his native India. Courtesy: Emirates Loto
Savio Peter Fernandes shared his money with relatives and school teachers in his native India. Courtesy: Emirates Loto

UAE

Emirates Loto winner uses prize money to help needy friends and relatives

Savio Peter Fernandes was one of the nine winners who shared Dh1m prize in July

Patrick Ryan
Patrick Ryan
Dubai

October 14, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

An Emirates Loto winner used his prize of more than Dh110,000 to help friends and family members who lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Savio Peter Fernandes, a UAE resident, was one of nine winners who shared a Dh1 million prize by matching five out of six numbers in Emirates Loto’s 13th draw on July 11.

Mr Fernandes shared his money with relatives and schoolteachers in his native India to help them deal with the fallout of the coronavirus outbreak.

“I feel extremely privileged to have won a share in the Emirates Loto draw – which gave me a chance to help those who need it,” said the 29-year-old customer service assistant.

“My family and my teachers were instrumental in making me the person I am today and I am humbled by the opportunity to help others as much as I can.”

Mr Fernandes said the UAE changed his life and he found helping others is rewarding.

He plans to settle down in the UAE as it made him feel “welcomed and inspired”.

In July, Emirates Loto, which boasts a jackpot of Dh50m, said it had suspended its weekly draws until later this year to complete a system upgrade.

Live draws were also expected to return at that time.

Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

UAEDubai