The next day, I went to the college with some of our team and met the Professor, Principal and students. The Principal Devaki Krishnakumar was an amazing women who genuinely wanted to help us. They explained to me about offering a training programme in Fashion Jewellery Making for transgenders. It was indeed a great chance and I didn't want our girls to miss this empwerment training programme which can change their economic status.

But motivating them to join in this programme was a big challege for me. They believed that such programmes and all the ones which had been offered before by different organisations, had made no big change in transgender people's lives. 'Begging is our destiny' said one of our girls.

However, girls Monal and Thenmozhi were interested from day one. Priya and Sandhiya too took the programme seriously. We wanted to form a 10 girls group but only 8 participated. Professor Malathi, Faculty advisor Nithya, Students Abi and Priya spent hours with us even after their college time was over. Their friendliness and dedication inspired and motivated all our girls to take the programme seriously.

The training started from 2 in the afternoon and finished at 5 in the evening. It was a 10 days training and we had our master Ayyappan who was an expert in fashion jewellery. Abi, was an expert not only in the jewellery but also in beautiful bead work. She relentlessly taught our girls forgetting time.

The Commissioner of the Directorate of Social Welfare had asked us to submit a project proposal for starting a business enterprise. She promised us that she will help and promote the project. Our group is a small one, but the training and the outcome of it will change the lives and make them ecomonically empowered. This will inspire other transgenders.

Three days ago, I met the Commissioner and submitted the proposal to her. She immediately directed her staff to take action. I strongly believe, the project will be sanctioned. But even before that, our good friend and well wisher Reshma Sharma had got us a free stall space in a Duchess Club exhibition in Rani Meiyammai hall, Chennai. With a loan of Rs.10,000, our girls will work and make 100 pieces of their creative fashion jewellery and display it for sale at the exhibition. Tomorrow, I, Monal and Thenmozhi will go and buy the raw materials.

19th and 20th September 09, our first sale! If you happen to be in Chennai, please visit our stall in Rani Meiyammai Hall, Chennai.

We have named our jewellery range as 'Butterflies'. Yes, Butterflies out of cocoon! Celebrating colours, celebrating life!