Rajalakshmi, a 15-year-old from Poovanthopu in Tamil Nadu, highlights the impact of CAFOD and Caritas India's assistance in transforming the lives of young people in her village, particularly after the 2004 tsunami. The program enabled girls to catch up on education missed due to financial constraints, and provided support for building new homes for families, primarily led by women. Community efforts also reflect traditional livelihoods like salt mining while expressing gratitude towards CAFOD supporters for their help in rebuilding and safeguarding the village.

1. Rajalakshmi in India… Rajalakshmi (15) is from Poovanthopu,a seaside village in Tamil Nadu , where CAFOD assistance is changing young people’s lives. Here’s a snapshot of Rajalakshmi’s village…

2. The girls missed years of school because their parents couldn’t pay school fees. Caritas India ran classes in their village so they could catch up. Rathika (13) Rajalakshmi (15) Kanagaalli (14) and Bala Sundari (14)(and other villagers in Poovanthopu) are Dalit caste which means they are often the poorest.

3. Here, women often build their own homes, as their husbands spend a lot of time at sea. Caritas India, supported by CAFOD has helped pay for good quality new homes. Poovanthopu was hit badly in the tsunami of 2004 and village women have done a lot of the rebuilding work!

4. Chellama is one villager who lived in a wood and thatch house, which flooded in the monsoon season. Here she is outside her old house.

5. Here are some of the new-builds. Villagers like to grow plants around their homes so they make a ‘tent’ of branches giving protection from the sun (and passing animals!) Villagers still make outhouses using wood and thatch.

6. The salt pans nearby have traditionally provided villagers with jobs. Sea water in the shallow pits evaporates and salt is gathered and piled up into small mounds.

7. The salt is piled up into much larger mounds at the side of the pans, ready to be taken away to be sold. Here is Chellama again by one of the mounds

8. They want to thank CAFOD supporters who have helped re-build their village and protect it for the future. Everyone gathers outside the village hall – which was constructed with aid money after the tsunami.

9. For more about CAFOD and young people in India go to: www.cafod.org.uk/bigdeal