Personality skill training for women held in south India

The Southern Youth Movement on March 13 organized personality development training for young women in Tuticorin Diocese, south India.

The training was held to mark the Women's Day celebrations at the Church of Our Lady of Nativity, Anaikarai of Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.

Doctor Anna Rumiya, a counselor and social worker, was one of the speakers.

Discussing the challenges young women face in the world, she suggested ways how to deal with these problems and how to develop their personalities to meet those challenges.

Participants were exposed to long-term and short-term goals of life, identified causes of depression through mental stress management and ways to recover from depression.

There was extensive discussion among them regarding the differences between infatuation and true love.

Glands of the body, television advertisements, and internet illusions are influencing young people in love affairs, said Rumiya.

The youth of the present generation is highly regarded for their education. However, they cannot solve age-related problems, make responsible decisions, and develop good relationships with others.

Career guidance is an essential part of their lives and should often be discussed with their parents, elders and teachers, said Rumiya.

In his talk, Father Jesuraj I, secretary of the Tuticorin Diocese Catholic Youth, expressed that 90 percent of young girls are intellectually rich and completed their bachelor’s degree in the southern part of the Tuticorin Diocese of Tamil Nadu.

Since they hail from a remote village background, they are not allowed to choose their career and life freely, the priest said.

The women empowerment program has enhanced their knowledge, encouraged them to face this world with self-actualization, and develop their personalities, he added.

There were 180 participants from 48 parishes who attended this training course.

“The programme was a worthwhile experience to know ourselves better. I was attracted to Bharathiyar's poem—"Nerkonda Paarvai, Nimindha Nannadai" - ‘she sees the truth and righteousness in everything around her,’” said Deva Sneha S from Saint Anne’s Church, Thattarmadam. 

Women must face all their difficulties courageously, she added.

“Women are unique in behaviours and characters. All my positive qualities were brought out by the speakers of the programme. I have learned something about the laws protecting women,” Sneha said.

Father Antony Xavier of Tuticorin introduced the youth movement namely the “Honeycomb Youth Movement” in 1983.

Its goal is to shape society by forming people.

The workshops included lectures and games for young girls, and the winners were awarded prizes and certificates.

Father Martin Joseph, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Catholic Youth Movement facilitated the training.

Father Selva Rathinam, parish priest of Anaikarai, and Sister Periya Nayagi S from St. Ann's of Trichy congregation were among the guests, who wished the young women well.