Another project was to build a house for a family we had identified near Mahabalipuram. Poverty and hopelessness led their 18-year-old daughter to commit suicide, leaving behind a paralytic father, a young, ignorant, helpless mother, an 8-year-old sister, and a 10 year old brother. The utter poverty of the family forced the 10 year old Velu to be the only bread winner for the family. The daughter's unnatural death made things worse as the rest of the village refused to have anything to do with her family. Looking at the desperate need of this family, Acts of Mercy decided to help them begin life again.

The mud house they lived in was unhygienic and was just enough for two people to be seated. The AOM volunteers took time off from their schedules to plan and build a home for them - spending time laying the bricks, helping the local laborers to carry load, paint the doors and be of any support in the whole process, including helping in getting the best material for the doors and windows at an economical prices.

"Help them help themselves" - this was what the volunteers aimed at. They spent time and energy to talk to the family and motivated them to support themselves. In due course, the lady was helped to find a job in a local resort/camp center. She now is able to support her husband and continue her daughter's education. Self-sufficient and a roof over their heads - one family is motivated to live. We hope to identify more deserving families and help them in similar ways.