Youth Task Force Leads Safe Within Resilience Drive in Kerala

Youth task forces trained under the Safe Within project in Kerala are emerging as the first line of community protection for landslide-affected communities, blending mental health support with disaster preparedness. Supported by Caritas Internationalis and implemented by Caritas India with diocesan partners, the initiative reflects a wider Caritas commitment to youth leadership and community-based disaster risk reduction.

On 13 January 2026, this vision took a concrete step forward at Chulliyana Parish Hall, Cheriyamkolly, where Wayanad Social Service Society (WSSS) inaugurated a community Task Force and observed Youth Day under the Safe Within Reconnect Wayanad and Vilangad project. The programme brought together young people, local leaders, volunteers, and project staff to formally launch trained local teams that will support mental well-being, early warning dissemination, basic first aid, and camp management during crises.

Welcoming the gathering, Programme Officer Jose P A from WSSS underlined that disasters in Wayanad and Kozhikode do not end with landslides or floods but leave long shadows on mental health, family relationships, and community trust. He stressed that the Task Force model under Safe Within is designed to respond to both physical and psychosocial impacts, echoing recent efforts to build community psychosocial care capacity in the region.

Padinjarathara Grama Panchayat President Asma K K formally inaugurated the Task Force component by lighting the ceremonial lamp. In her address, she highlighted that empowered communities with trained youth volunteers can face emergencies with courage, coordination, and clear information. Referring to the youth as the backbone of local resilience, she appreciated Caritas India and WSSS for investing in structured community preparedness rather than relying only on external responders.

Presiding over the function, WSSS Executive Director Fr Jinoj Palathadathil described the Task Force as a symbol of solidarity and hope, not just a list of names. Connecting the initiative with broader Caritas efforts to place compassion at the heart of disaster response, he urged volunteers to combine discipline with empathy and to see each intervention as service to the most vulnerable. Fire and Rescue Services Station Officer Nideesh Kumar delivered the keynote address, drawing from real emergency experiences in Kerala to explain why trained community volunteers are often the first lifesavers in the crucial early hours of a disaster. He stressed that early warning, basic first aid, and organised shelter management can significantly reduce casualties and distress.

Marking Youth Day, the programme honoured young role model Albin Saji, a gold medallist in javelin throw, with a Young Achiever Award. Fr Jinoj felicitated him with a shawl, and the award was presented by Station Officer Nideesh Kumar. Sharing his journey, Albin spoke about discipline, resilience, and staying focused through setbacks, encouraging peers to bring the same spirit to community service and disaster response.

State Programme Officer of Caritas India, Abeesh Antony, led an orientation session on the structure and responsibilities of the Task Force, linking it to the four resilience pillars of Safe Within: governance, psychosocial care, livelihoods, and networking. He emphasised that effective members need both technical skills and inner readiness, including alertness, emotional balance, teamwork, empathy, and a willingness to act without hesitation for neighbours in distress.

Felicitation messages from Padinjarathara Grama Panchayat Vice President Johny Pullumariyil and local leader Manu Prasad reinforced the importance of youth leadership and community participation in building a culture of safety. As the programme closed, newly oriented volunteers, local leaders, and project teams reaffirmed their commitment to serve as Task Force members under Safe Within, working to ensure that disaster-prone villages in Wayanad and Kozhikode become safer, more resilient, and mentally stronger with each passing year.