Changing lives In Chennai

Meet Maria Gislen, who moved to India in 1993 and has been serving underprivileged Children ever since.

- Jane Kataria

By choice or chance, the journey of life takes people to places that they would have never imagined. little did I know that 2016 would see me shifting from Moscow to Chennai. And, as I found out here were many people making their new home in Chennai, just like me. every story I have come across is unique story worth dwelling upon and may be even written. I like to meet people and bring to light, from a journalist’s perspective, their life stories. These stories contain different perspectives and experiences, which make us realise the diversity, the challenges, the goals, faith and the beauty of the world. The story I would like to write about this month is one of finding meaning and purpose in life, lending a helping hand to those in need, no matter what background they come from, making a small difference in somebody’s life story; it is about humility and humanity.

Maria Gislen moved to Chennai way back in 1993 and has been living here ever since, for 25 years now. Several questions crossed my mind while driving down to her school located in the outskirts of Chennai. An hour or so later, I reached the little lambs School. A short, bespectacled lady introduced herself as Maria. Her warmth and easy-going style made me comfortable almost immediately. There were many children in the corridor of the multi-storeyed building. It was a school dedicated to underprivileged children and they caught me by surprise by greeting me in better-than-expected English. It was the first of many more surprises to come.