It was a tragic day for the people of Kerala to hear about the death of 27 persons including 5 children due to the heavy rain and landslides in the high range districts namely Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Idukki. The flood and landslides caused due to heavy rain and lightning swept away the houses and crop fields of farmers Five bodies are yet to be found.

At this juncture, the Kerala Catholic Youth Movement (KCYM), the official regional organization under the auspices of Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) formed Samaritan Volunteers task forces in collaboration with Caritas India.

KCYM is responsible for the integral development of the Catholic Youth and the total liberation of human society following Christian values. It is to coordinate and empower the human potentials of youth based on gospel values, to make them effective agents of change in the socio-religious-political-economic and cultural reality of India especially of Kerala through national integration. It also aims at making the youth committed to the serving mission of the church to the least, last and the lost.

During the covid pandemic time, Caritas India KCYM Youth volunteers could reach thousands of people with helping aid and became channels of the psycho-social wellbeing of the people in Kerala. The most notable was the funeral service by more than 3000 trained KCYM Caritas Samaritan volunteers to thousands of covid patients, which was highly appreciated by all.

The month of October has witnessed another flood-like situation in Kerala, where KCYM Samaritan volunteers actively engaged and rendered the services to the needy. On 24 October 2021 around 110 volunteers of KCYM Caritas Samaritans volunteers extended support to the people of Azhangad under Kanjirappally dioceses. Around 70 families at Azhangad suffered due to landslides and they could not evacuate due to road blocks and destruction due to the flood and disaster.

The Young Caritas KCYM Samaritans coordinated and worked together to clear the roads and comfort so that the people around the place can travel smoothly to meet their immediate needs and deeds. KCYM Director, Fr Stephen Chalakara inaugurated the activities and Edward Raju, President, Shijo Edayadil, General Secretary along with Ajoy P Thomas, Secretary led the team. Kanjirappally Diocese, KCYM team, Fr Varghese Kochupurackal, and President Adarsh gave proper guidance for the team. Along with rescue operations, KCYM Caritas Samaritan Volunteer Team catered immediate needs like clothes, food and other items to the families of four dioceses who were the victims of the disaster by collecting finance from local people through Rs. 100 challenge campaign.

This campaign was intended to mobilize the Food, WaSH & NFI needs of the flood and landslide affected people. With this Campaign, KCYM Caritas Samaritans could collect more than Rs. 1,00,000 and the volunteers could reach around 100 families. Shri. Roshy Augustine, Minister for Irrigation, water supply & Sanitation visited the place and honoured the services of the Young Caritas Samaritan Volunteers. He said that “the initiative taken by the young blood of Catholic Youth and Caritas Samaritan volunteers are highly appreciative and should be an inspiration to all young people, they have set a model among the youngsters. We acknowledge the services of the Catholic Church especially the youth volunteers during the stressful situation of the people”.