Lalitha
My name is Lalitha (not real name), and I live in Thiruvananthapuram. I am a widow and have been living with HIV for many years. After my husband passed away, I felt completely lost. Life felt empty, and I struggled every day—not just with my health, but with loneliness, financial stress, and the fear of an uncertain future. I also had to look after my childrens but I only had very few resources and no steady income.
The only skill I had was a basic knowledge of tailoring, but I never had the confidence or opportunity to use it to earn a living. That’s when I heard about Project Koottu, an initiative by Vincentian Social Services. It was a turning point in my life.
Through Project Koottu, I received proper training in tailoring and was gifted a tailoring machine. For the first time in years, I felt someone believed in me. I started stitching clothes from home and gradually began earning a small but steady income. This not only helped me take care of my children’s basic needs, but also gave me a sense of purpose and dignity.
Now, I spend my days productively. I no longer feel useless or forgotten. Thanks to Project Koottu, I have found strength, stability, and hope. I’m deeply grateful to Vincentian Social Services for helping me rebuild my life.
