Marian Home – Skill training for school drop outs
Good Shepherd convent, Chennai was established in the year 1924 with the purpose of serving girls. Since inception, the Sisters in Good Shepherd Convent, Chennai were offering care and guidance to adolescent girls and women from poor economic background and marginalised families due to vulnerable circumstances (such as girls from broken homes, families of alochoholics, adolescent girls with emotional and behavioural problems for protective care and guidance.) This home was called Sacred Heart Home. In the year 1952 when Marian Home was established for school dropout girls to have grahini training programme, 818 inmates have passed through the Sacred Heart Home. In the 1950s, Marian Home was responding to the then challenges of young girls and provided an environment for them to grow into women of character and integrated personalities. It clearly addressed the felt need and thus its interventions proved to be a relevant one. The various programmes/activities carried out by the Sisters since inception were very meaningful, as it corresponded to the then, prevailing socio-economic issues and sought feasible solutions to emancipate girls and women from difficulties. Over the past decades Marian Home has assisted many young girls to stand on their own feet and bring about change in themselves as well as their families. The long standing presence of Chennai community is a testimony for their missionary zeal, dedication and hard work. In November 1995, an assessment was undertaken to determine the effectiveness and relevance of the programme and suggested possible measures to improve the same. Again in 2015 another evaluation was done. The following are some options;
A full-fledged vocational skills training centre for girls, promoted as a professional and expert service provider under the banner of ‘Good Shepherd’ which can attract trainees from all section of the society. Paid service for the affordable one, subsidised service for the low income group and free service for the most vulnerable and marginalised groups. Along with professional vocational skills, value based life skills could also be taught that can become a ‘Good Shepherd’ brand. Starting of diversified skills training that can match contemporary market and make girls employable. Suggested courses could be as follows - Bedside assistance; Cooking and food processing; Computer allied skills; Beautician etc. This has to be based on a sound market analysis plus networking with companies for possible placement and/or linking as subsidiary units of companies.
A crisis intervention centre can be started for young girls and women who are facing difficult circumstances like wife-beating, single mothers, students prone to run-away, depressed young girls, marriage break-up etc.
Study and set-up a ‘rescue support initiative’ in collaboration with the Congregation outside India, where Marian Home can serve as a transit centre for trafficked women/girls who are assisted to return home.
We are in the process of organizing these programmes in the future.