SIOLIM: Stella Jacob is a teacher who has helped transform the lives of thousands of rural youth through education and technical skilling. Hers is a story of resilience, simplicity, and a lifelong commitment to making underprivileged and marginalised youngsters employable and self-sufficient.
Born to P C Abraham and Thresiamma Abraham, Stella’s early years were shaped by the rhythms of her father’s career in civil aviation, leading the family from Trichy, Tamil Nadu, to the bustling streets of Vile Parle, Mumbai. However, her education began in the rural tranquillity of Kottayam, where she spent her primary years in a Malayalam medium school, guided by her grandparents.
Life in the village was no walk in the park for young Stella. Balancing school with chores that included tending to goats and cows, grappling with the absence of electricity, and navigating long walks to school, often crossing rivers in a canoe, Stella’s determination emerged early. Undeterred, she loved school and excelled, always securing the top position. Her grandmother instilled in her the wisdom of Malayalam proverbs, while her grandfather, a formidable figure, was a farmer, and also managed a store selling groceries and Ayurvedic medicines, grounding Stella in the values of simplicity and hard work.
A significant move occurred when her father was transferred to Bangalore, reuniting the family and shifting Stella's educational journey to English medium institutions from Class VIII to graduation at Mt Carmel and St Joseph’s, where he represented her college for intercollegiate science seminars and starred in debates, elocutions and quiz contests. Following her post-graduation in Botany from Bombay University, Stella embarked on a teaching career at St Joseph’s in Mumbai.
However, destiny had other plans for her. Marriage in 1975 brought her to the sunny shores of Goa, where she commenced her teaching journey at St Lawrence, Agasaim.
Stella’s passion for education expanded beyond the classroom as she initiated a science club, organised exhibitions, and led excursions for her students. A career move to St Xavier’s HS at Moira marked a new chapter, culminating in her promotion to Headmistress at Mt Carmel, Arambol.
In 1991, Stella took voluntary retirement to devote her time entirely to the Indian Student Education Aid Foundation (ISEAF). Her association with ISEAF began when Rudolph Schwartz visited Mt Carmel, searching for deserving students for scholarships. What started with four students blossomed into a registered foundation in 1995 under the leadership of Tomazinho Cardozo, with Stella as the founding secretary.
When the first batch of Home Nursing students completed training, a Home Nursing Bureau was established in 2005. It was a major milestone in Stella’s efforts to train locals to their strengths, and not force upon them something beyond their capacity.
She created methodical systems to train and monitor the nurses in the bureau.
In 2014, a third institute, Holy Cross Indo-German Techno Centre, was established at Marna and Stella served as honorary Principal cum manager. She and her team established an open school to help school dropouts complete their SSC Certificate. Her mission to make rural students employable garnered well-deserved recognition at the 10th Orchid Awards, founded by Asha Arondekkar.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Stella enjoys reading non-fiction, cultivating her garden, and movies with unusual narratives. Looking ahead, her focus remains on spiritual growth and continued support for talented, underprivileged students pursuing their passions.