Kerala Nuns Offer Compassionate Shelter to Transgender Youth

Kochi, 12 April 2025: In a quiet and compassionate mission, a group of Catholic nuns in Kerala are transforming lives at Jyothis Bhavan, a short-stay home for young transgender individuals in Kochi. Run by the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC), the home offers shelter, dignity, and guidance to those who have faced rejection from their families and society after embracing their gender identity.

Founded in 2022 with partial support from Kerala’s Social Justice Department, Jyothis Bhavan—meaning “Luminous House” in Sanskrit—welcomes transgender residents, primarily aged 18 to 25, many of whom are recovering from gender affirmation procedures and seeking a path forward in life.

“They are also God’s children,” said Sr. Amal Rose in an interview with Global Sisters Report. “If we don’t take care of them, who else will?”

The initiative traces its roots to 2016, when the nuns began operating an alternative education centre for transgender students who had dropped out of school due to discrimination. That same year, Sr. Teslin encountered a transgender person crying at a bus stop, abandoned for two days. Moved by compassion, she took her in and later proposed establishing a permanent home—a vision that soon gained support from the congregation.

Today, Jyothis Bhavan houses up to 21 residents, offering them six months to access identity documents, enrol in education, or find employment. Three CMC sisters run the facility with the help of two staff members and a cook. The sisters offer gentle guidance rather than rigid rules, allowing residents to regain confidence and rebuild their lives.

India’s 2011 census recorded 480,000 transgender people, but the real figure is likely higher. A 2014 Kerala study found that 90% of transgender students dropped out due to bullying. Many are driven into begging or sex work, where they endure violence and exploitation.

Jyothis Bhavan provides a vital alternative. It also encourages creativity—resident Rena V.S., an aspiring Bharata Natyam scholar, recently scripted and composed songs for a music video produced by CMC Vision, the congregation’s media arm.

Community acceptance has grown, thanks to the sisters’ outreach. Local rickshaw drivers, once wary, now treat residents with respect. “Thanks to the nuns, they’re like any other passengers to us,” said driver S. Prabhakaran.

Gopika, a resident and makeup artist in the Malayalam film industry, says the transformation is visible: “We walk freely without hostile stares.”

As Sr. Rose told Global Sisters Report, the sisters are simply putting into action the Church’s call to welcome all with mercy and compassion—creating a space where everyone can feel seen, heard, and at home.

In the words of Pope Francis: “God is Father; He does not disown any of His children.”

Courtesy: Global Sisters Report

Image credit: Binu Alex, Global Sisters Report