Monica comes from a family of three children. Her father works as an auto driver for daily wages. Her mother is unemployed. They are living in a small rented house. Monica wanted to do her higher studies in Computer Science but could not afford the fees for this course.

After finishing her 6-month computer course at ANEW, she wrote:

"Right after finishing my 6-month course I got a job in Xellent Xerox, where I am working as a computer operator, creating visiting cards, invitations etc.

Malarvizhi is married with two children. Her husband worked in a factory for a meagre salary. Since the factory closed, the family was unable to meet their basic needs. At that time she came to know about ANEW. She joined the Home Nursing course at ANEW and completed it very successfully.

She now earns Rs. 3000/- per month and proudly helps the family to meet their household expenses.

Malarvizhi writes:

"We are living very happily with the money I earn. I used to depend on my husband but now I am so happy that I can live on my own. ANEW has helped me a lot to build my self confidence.

Even if a thousand charity meal centres are setup or ten thousand shelters are raised, more blessings will be bestowed on him who teaches a poor man and woman to read and write."

Bhagyalakshmi's father is a railway binder and her mother, a housewife. It seemed as if her life was going to stagnate after she finished her plus-two with her helping out her mother in their house at Tirumullaivayal. That was before September 2001 when she heard about a social service organisation (ANEW) that was giving free coaching in computer to girls who had been through school.

Bhagyalakshmi completed the six-month course for diploma in computer application and DTP and was equipped with a smattering of conversational

English through the spoken English classes conducted by the organisation.

She used to be scared even to travel alone by bus, but now walks with a spring in her step and looks confident enough to handle half-a-dozen people after attending their self-awareness classes.

A girl who thought her studies would end with school final, she is now doing BBA through correspondence and, if her family agrees, will do MBA!

Vijayakumari of Aminjikarai has an even more interesting story. She joined the home nursing course run by the organisation and passed out with 82 per cent marks. Her husband works in the postal department and she was finding it difficult to make both ends meet.

She was trained in the four-month course for which the organisation paid her a stipend of Rs 250.

After the classroom training, she underwent practical training at the Sundaram Medical Foundation and did hands-on nursing at an old age home.

At the end of the whole exercise, she took a test at Sundaram Medical Foundation and came out with flying colours.