Leadership training is an important part of this year's programme. Tribal leaders are advised on how to set up campaigns and formally represent their communities at government and other meetings.

Meenakshi our Health worker oversees another successful birth. This time, a month premature to mother Swathi from Kandipatti, an Irula tribal village.

Thanks to everyone who gave so generously to our Christmas appeal, many of them anonymously. Our colleagues in India have been doing more than delivering urgent supplies. Staff and volunteers, being tribal people, have a good relationship with villagers and help if they find families with desperate needs. The last photo is of a widowed woman found living with three children, all with health issues, in a one room hut with a leaking roof, no proper stove and little food. Another child was sleeping on the balcony of a nearby house. Our project staff were able to meet their immediate needs and are negotiating with the district authorities for a new house. Happy New Year to all our supporters and thanks.

Thank you to everyone who has kindly donated to our Christmas appeal and those who have supported us throughout the year. Some of the village children sent some pictures to thank you all. The appeal is still open at: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/Covid-19TribalsIndia?success=true
We have some packets of tasty tea, fresh from the Nilgiris, to sell at £6.50. We can deliver if you are local to Calstock.
Some photos of young people working on their pictures and of some of the families that will be supported by your donations.

Life goes on as much as possible in the villages with trained tailors mending and making clothes and Mrs Meenakshi checking on the health of children with a government doctor.

Thanks to Alphonse and his team, the Tribal Futures outreach office and training centre has moved to better premises. It was formally opened today with tailoring trainees and others being able to use improved facilities. The centre is accessible to communities that are some distance away from Kotagiri where the ISLAND Trust is based. The more isolated villages are mostly affected by Covid and the building will act as a base for relief work. Alphonse says he still suffers from the after effects of the virus and has had a successful cataract operation.