Mar Thoma Navodaya Movement Society Training Synopsis

The Mar Thoma Syrian church has been in the forefront for helping the marginalized communities in India. It has been an integral part of the mission of the church to reach out to the downtrodden and outcast members of the society and help uplift them. As part of centenary celebration of the  Valiya Metropolitan Most. Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom, the Church began to reach out to the transgender community through Navodaya Movement. Several awareness events were held in Kerala and in several other parts of the country as part of this initiative.
As part of the Mar Thoma Church’s ministry to the transgender community, vocational training programs aimed at uplifting and empowering transgenders individuals through training were held. The highlights of these programs are listed below.
Life Skills & Social Skills: Life Skills and Social skills were identified as a primary requirement for the upliftment of the Transgender community. A two day workshop was held at the Shantigiri Ashram touching upon a wide range of topics – covering the various aspects

Fashion designing-Mr Pramod
Financial planing- Mr George Thomas
Beautician course- Ms Nisha Balan
Counselling session- Rev Dr George Verghese
Introduction to Farming- Dr Robert.

50 Transgender individuals attended the program. Rt. Rev. Dr Geeverghese Mar Theodosius provided overall leadership for the session. Rev Philip George was also present. The program was organized and executed by Mrs Preethi Kuruvila.

Vocational Training:
Mushroom farming & Coconut climbing -A five day program on Mushroom Farming & Coconut climbing was held at Krishi Vigyan Kendra along with Navodaya Movement. Dr Sindhu from Krishi Vigyan Kendra coordinated the program under the leadership of Dr. Robert. Mrs Preethi Kuruvila was the training organizer from Navodaya Society for this program. Seven students attended the program. All seven students attended the course on mushroom farming. Two students attended the course on Coconut climbing as well. Coconut climbing machines were given after their training.  Rt. Rev. Dr Geevarghese Mar Theodosius presented the certificates to the trainees after the completion of the course.

Beautician Course-Kochi –
A month long residential course on beautician training was held in Kochi at the Guidance centre.This enabled Navodaya Movement to give the eight students an experience of campus life and living in a hostel-like environment. It helped foster a bond between themselves, and for us as an organization to instill core values which we are important for their success in this world.

The feedback from the trainers Flory, Sudha & Mini was very positive. They commended on the speed at which they learnt and thier artistic abilities. Mrs Sujatha Menon held grooming sessions for the trainees. Rev. Dr. George Verghese held counselling session for the trainees during their stay at the guidance centre. The training was organized by Mrs Preethi Kuruvila.

Justice Benjamin Koshy was the chief guest for the certificate ceremony and emphasized on the need of equality among the marginalized and he commended on the significant progress that  Navodaya Movement has made in this short span of time by assisting the marginalized. Rt. Rev. Dr. Geeverghese Mar Theodosius presented the certificates to the trainees after the completion of the course and Mrs Preethi Kuruvila distributed a make up kit to all the trainees during the certificate ceremony.

Beautician course -Thiruvanathapuram –
A month long training program in beautician course was held in Trivandrum. Mrs. Usha Koshy of Eve’s Beauty Parlour conducted the training at the St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Pattoor. Rev. Dr M. O. Oommen Jr and the parish assisted in hosting the eight trainees and providing the facility.The training was organized by Mrs Preethi Kuruvila.
Rt. Rev. Joseph Mar Barnabas the diocesan Bishop was present during the certificate ceremony and spoke about the church’s ministry to the marginalized. Dr.D Babu Paul, IAS was the Key note speaker for the Certificate Ceremony and emphasized on the need of being empathetic to the Transgender community and not sympathetic.
Rt. Rev. Dr Geeverghese Mar Theodosius presented the certificates to the trainees after the completion of the course and Mrs Preethi Kuruvila distributed a make up kit to the trainees during the certificate ceremony.

Beauty Therapy –Thrissur –
A month long residential course on beauty therapy was held in Ravi Varma Mandiram,Thrissur. Rev. Mathew Abraham coordinated the effort from the Diocese perspective. Dr Kanaka Pratap and her team delivered the training program at the Ravi Varma Mandiram.Navodaya Movement was able to give the ten students an experience of campus life and living in a hostel-like environment which helped foster a bond between themselves, and for us as an organization to instill core values that are important for their success in this world.The training was organized by Mrs Preethi Kuruvila.
Rt. Rev.Dr. Thomas Mar Theethos, the diocesan Bishop was present during the certificate ceremony and spoke about the church’s ministry to the marginalized. The Mayor Mrs Ajitha Jayarajan was the Key note speaker for the Certificate Ceremony. The MLA Adv.K Rajan and Rural SP Pushkaran graced the occasion.
Rt. Rev. Dr Geeverghese Mar Theodosius presented the certificates to the trainees after the completion of the course and Mrs Preethi Kuruvila distributed a make up kit to the trainees during the certificate ceremony.