New job in a new country sees Norfolk carer win award

Crossing continents and changing careers hasn’t phased a Norfolk carer who has just won an award for her work.

Sameera Ebrahim met her husband Matthew in her native South Africa, and the couple married a year ago - first of all in the UK, and then celebrated with a party in her home country.

Once she received her approval to work in this country, Sam (as she is known) started working with Extra Hands, based in the company’s Broadland office,

“I really love my job. It is the fulfilment of helping someone and everyone is so nice,” she said.

The 26-year-old was nominated by a service user who said: “I just wanted to say thank you for sending Sam today, I really enjoyed her coming and we got lots of things done very well.  She is so attentive and thoughtful and has the initiative to do everything. I would love to have her again please.”

After just five months with Extra Hands, Sam said she was ‘pleasantly surprised’ at winning an award.

Leaving her family behind in Johannesburg - which has a population of more than 5,000,000 has been tough, but Sam said she loves her new home in Horsford, which has a population of less than 5,000, and is getting used to life in Norfolk with Matt, who is a postman.

“It is really beautiful here and everyone has been really welcoming,”she said.

Prior to leaving South Africa, Sam had a number of jobs, including running her own small business while working as a receptionist for another company.