This first successful experience prompted us to respond promptly when Don Adaikalasamy Erudayam, known as Father Samy, reached out to us in 2020 for support for the Dalit community in Tamil Nadu, in the southeastern heart of India.

He told us about a community divided into many villages, with a population of around 140,000 people. The Dalits, known as the “untouchables,” cannot own land and are forced to work for others, earning very low wages that do not allow them to live with dignity. Most of them have no access to basic education, and about 30% of the population is completely illiterate.

Together, we decided to launch a microcredit project similar to the one in 2009, which had shown excellent results in a short period and ensured its sustainability.

From there, the prolonged lockdown in the country led us to initiate two projects aimed at supporting the many children and young people who were still unable to return to school.