Dear CRY family,
During a recent trip to Tamil Nadu, I visited Project RWDS in Ramnathapuram district, which focuses on the palm grove workers who tap the sap of palm trees to produce and sell jaggery, for their livelihoods. Accompanied by my wife, Jyothi, and our daughter, Nitya, this experience profoundly impacted us.

Each season, the palm grove workers lease a section of the palm grove, migrating from their villages to harvest sap. They often take loans, leaving them trapped in a cycle of debt. My daughter compared their situation to the post-reconstruction plight of slaves in 19th-century America, a truly heartbreaking realization.

These workers spend 7 to 8 months in groves far from their villages, limiting access to schools & healthcare. Children often miss school, leading to dropouts. Many work in seafood processing or salt packaging instead of attending school, prioritizing financial needs over education.

Project RWDS, founded by former migrant worker Mr. Sathaiah, is a lifeline for these families. The team helps them access resources. They work to keep children in school, offering support through development centers.

Previously, children traveled 20 kms to school. It was great to visit a new school in Sengazhaneerodai, built after 14 years of community campaigning. This school has 2 classrooms for grades 1 to 5 & provides mid-day meals.

We also visited the modest dwelling of a palm worker, a barebones structure lacking basic amenities. Inside, a small kiln was used for heating palm sap & the living conditions were stark. Hearing alarming stories about children falling into kilns emphasized the daily dangers these families face.

At a nearby development center, we were greeted with song & dance by the children. Their enthusiasm was heartwarming. Nitya, who has recently opened a CRY chapter at her school, engaged with the children from a world so different from hers.

Meeting Mr. Sathaiah & his dedicated team left us inspired to do more, a sentiment I know resonates with Jyothi and Nitya as well.

I encourage anyone visiting India to visit a CRY project. It’s an eye-opening experience that sheds light on the resilience of communities and CRY’s belief in the power of collective action.