“My grandmother calls me every time she needs anything now. Earlier, she looked after me. Now, I’m happy that I am taking care of her,” says 23-year-old Manjari with undisguised happiness.
The confidence in Manjari’s voice is unmistakable. A few years ago, living at Government After Care Home for Adolescent Girls, Kollam, Manjari had never imagined that she would be earning an income and living independently.
She was only 12 when her grandmother left her at the after care home as her parents were no more. She lived there till she was 21, worried what she would do once she left the home. “I did a six-month beautician course, but did not learn much. I had wanted to become a beautician, but that plan did not take off. Then I did my TTC. It was then the Aftercare programme was rolled out at the home.”
