Empowering Young Women Through Employment

When Ronalisha married her husband, she had just graduated school and was excited to begin a prosperous life with her new family. But soon after, she discovered her husband suffered severe mental illness. She endured terrible physical and mental abuse at his hands, as well as from her in-laws. Broken and devastated, she left the marriage. But as a divorced woman, her own family rejected her, leaving her with no one for support.

When she arrived at the St. Joseph Seva Sadnan Community College, run by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Annecy, Sr. Remya recalls, Ronalisha had no way to care for herself. “Odisha is one of the poorest states in India,” she says, “A large number of young people who have been abused or mistreated migrate here without any marketable job skills.”

Thanks to a grant from SRW, Ronalisha received job training at the college, as well as the mental health support she needed to recover from her past trauma and learn how to rebuild her life. With the Sisters help, she found employment as a tailor after completing her training, and now she earns a steady monthly income that provides financial freedom and empowerment. “Thanks to SRW,” Sr. Remya reports, “Ronalisha has achieved her dream of independence. She is an inspiration to the many other girls who arrive at our school facing similar challenges, but eager to work and rebuild their lives.”