Slum girls get a new lease of life!

CHENNAI: Thirty girls from Slums of Chennai graduated as geriatric nurses on Tuesday, thanks to the three-month residential training offered by Asha Nivas Social Service Centre.Confidently wearing their smiles and dressed neatly in green sarees, they are all set to take up employment anytime soon. This training is given to girls from Chennai slums who do not have the opportunities to pursue their education after class 10 or class 12. Asha Nivas, so far, has trained and found employment  for more than 500 young girls from the Chennai slums.Anish Fatima (18), a resident of a slum near Perungudi who couldn’t continue her education after class 10 due to family circumstances, said, “Before coming here I have never been out of my home. After these three months of training, I feel very confident that I can earn my own money now and  be economically independent. I would say this training has given me a new lease of life.”Uma Maheswari, (19) from a Saidapet slum, who, after class 12 couldn’t go to college due to similar reasons, said, “I always wanted to do a nursing course after my Plus Two but my family couldn’t afford to send me. Today, I may have a job soon. I plan to save money and do a one-year nursing course and become a full fledged  nurse. This is an excellent opportunity for girls like us.”During the past three months, they were given training in basic geriatric nursing, personal health and hygiene, counselling skills, geriatric diseases and management, personality development, first aid training and diet and nutrition. They also had practical training at Kumaran Hospital, Kilpauk. They have a starting salary of Rs 4,000, and are generally hired as full time nurses by individuals to take care of the aged.Lilly Jasmine, Chief Community Development Officer, Asha Nivas, said, “This training has not only empowered them economically but I also find a complete change in their attitude towards life in a very positive way.” Rev Dr Kurian Thomas, Director of Asha Nivas, motivated the students to take their responsibilities seriously and get ready for work.