My encounter with women and children full of resilience and strength

When I first arrived in Andhra Pradesh, India, I was filled with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. The unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells of this vibrant region were a stark contrast to what I was used to. But as I began my internship with the Congregation of Jesus Mary Joseph Social Service Society, I quickly realized that the greatest contrast wasn’t external—it was in the lives of the children and women I was about to meet. These were lives marked by resilience, strength, and a quiet courage that I would soon come to deeply admire.

In a state with a population of about 54 million people, many of whom face significant hardships, I have seen firsthand the harsh reality of life for children and women in difficult circumstances. According to the National Family Health Survey, or NFHS-5, about 13% of adolescent girls and women aged 15-19 have started having children.

Many of these children are deprived of their basic rights, and the challenges they face are complex and multifaceted. For children in dysfunctional families — the most vulnerable among them — the perceived solution often seems to be institutionalization, a system that, while providing immediate relief, is far from ideal.

Institutional education and care encompasses multiple dimensions: provision of safe housing, nutritious food, decent clothing, quality care and support, education, emotional and psychological support, peer interaction, participation in sports and recreation, life skills training, family and community involvement, empowerment and advocacy. Religious congregations such as the Congregation of Jesus Mary Joseph have a long history of building institutions to address social inequalities such as access to education based on social status, caste-based oppression, and gender-based disadvantage.

The Congregation of Jesus Mary Joseph, driven by its charism of “an ever-adaptable apostolic availability,” recognized the need for safe shelter for the homeless and provided them with homes where they could be free from the dangers of the world and grow in wisdom and knowledge. With a vision to support the weak and strengthen the vulnerable, support and rehabilitation centers were established.

Through these institutions, vulnerable people, people with depression, abused, tortured, mistreated and trafficked young women and children found support, safety and a sense of community and camaraderie. This enabled them to overcome memories of violence and harm and regain the power to recognise and assert their own dignity.

My internship was in rehabilitation homes for girls and young women in difficult circumstances, run by the social service association of the municipality. The municipality works in collaboration with the government of Andhra Pradesh. All the residents come through the Child Welfare Commission of the state. Some are school-going students, while adults without basic education are given skills training.

The house is equipped with advanced tailoring machines and the residents are trained to use them. The daily activities resemble a small-scale industry. The income generated is used for their maintenance and a part is deposited in their bank account.

The nurse in charge of the house has a postgraduate degree in psychology and meets the residents occasionally to provide guidance. Among the residents are a few HIV positive individuals, who are neither discriminated against nor isolated. They receive daily medication and nutritious food.

Locals often share meals during festivals or special occasions. Students often have the opportunity to interact with the outside world and enjoy considerable freedom. Relations between residents are generally positive; they are generous and supportive, and come together to celebrate joyfully. I had the opportunity to interact with them, conduct interviews, and spend time listening to their stories.

Some protective factors in the rehabilitation home are:

• Exclusivity for women:The house is exclusively for women, which contributes to a safer and more supportive environment.
• Quality dormitories:The dormitories are well maintained and have only four beds per room, making the stay more comfortable and safe.
• Safety measures:Security cameras have been installed in common areas and hallways to ensure the safety of residents.
• Nutritious meals:Residents are provided with nutritious food, which promotes their overall health and well-being.
• Opportunity to express concerns: There is space for residents to express their concerns, which makes them feel heard and supported.

Some risk factors include:

• Emotional and psychological preparednessPrisoners may have repressed emotions and a vulnerable psychological state, which may leave them unprepared for effective rehabilitation after their temporary care period ends.
• Adequacy of skills training:The skills training provided may not be sufficient to enable inmates to function independently unless they are placed in a work situation.
• Socio-cultural context: The socio-cultural environment does not always provide safety and security for single women. Many women leave home only when they have found a stable job after completing their education or through marriage.

During interviews, most residents indicated that they feel safer in the institution, but also that they feel that they are not free and do not belong to a family, which makes them unhappy. They wish they had a family with loving parents and regret that they do not have parents who provide individual attention and care. The party culture in the society also makes them feel ashamed in front of their classmates if they cannot contribute money like other students do. Adolescents sometimes become rebellious and encourage and help newly admitted peers to run away.

A girl who was abandoned by her mother and trafficked said she still loves her mother and misses her very much. When asked if she was angry with her mother for the suffering she endured, she replied that she forgives her because her mother chose to bring her into the world anyway. Considering the suffering she endured even as a child, I admire her courage to forgive and love.

Another girl, who is in the ninth grade, said that she misses her family and loved ones very much when she sees her classmates’ parents taking care of them. Yet another girl said that if she had a loving family, she would not be living in a nursing home.

The sisters in my congregation work to give these young women and girls the best opportunities to grow, become independent and integrate into society and family life. However, I believe that even our best efforts cannot compare to the warmth of a loving family, where a child receives love, individual attention and encouragement to grow.

The three months of my internship gave me a profound life experience as I met women with remarkable resilience and strength. I met strong and motivated individuals who do not limit themselves just to survive in society but also strive to flourish and reach new heights.