Aid for the ‘Dalit’ People 19 May, 2010 Pictured are ICD students; David, Lewis, Adam and Wayne with ICD staff, Yvonne, Rhoda and Joan, seven of the eleven volunteers who walked nine miles of the Belfast Marathon in aid of the Dalit people of India Staff and students from ICD along with several volunteers from the community recently participated in the Belfast marathon in aid of the 'Dalit' people of India. Branded as impure from the moment of birth, one out of six people in India live and suffer at the bottom of the Hindu caste system. Known as the 'untouchables', 'outcastes', and most recently 'slumdogs', they have named themselves 'Dalits'. The word 'Dalit' coming from the Marathi language meaning 'ground', 'suppressed', 'crushed' or 'broken to pieces'. Despite discrimination laws, many Dalits still suffer from social stigma and political oppression; Dalits are often denied the basic rights of education, housing, property rights, freedom of religion, choice of employment and equal treatment before the law. Eleven volunteers including ICD staff and students walked 9 miles of the Belfast marathon to raise much needed funds to help with education provision for the 'Dalit' people. Joan Johnston, who co-ordinated their efforts said, 'Learning about the Dalit people and speaking to a member of their community spurred us on to try and do what we could to help them. We felt a great sense of achievement when we completed our 9 mile walk on 3 May 2010. I would like to thank the eleven volunteers who participated and everyone who very generously supported our fundraising. The total amount raised in aid of the Dalit people was £1206.50.