In India, most people are divided by a 'caste system', which goes back thousands of years. It means you are born into a group, or 'caste' of people - and some castes are higher up the scale, and considered better, than others.

If you are born at the very bottom of the pile, outside the caste system altogether, then you may be classed a dalit or an adivasis. Although everyone in India is supposed to have equal rights, in everyday life dalits and adivasis are treated unfairly by people in higher castes. A quarter of people in India are dalits - that's a lot of people who should be treated the same way as everyone else but aren't...

Back in 2004, Kala's village was hit by the tsunami. 'I was eating at home,' she told us. 'We heard a big shout and lots of people crying and running towards the road. I was shocked and scared. We left to stay in a public building for two days. More than 75 families from different places stayed there. When we returned to our village it was covered in rubbish. We cleaned it up ourselves,' she says. 'No one came to help us.'

'My family is very poor,' Kala explains. 'I live in an old hut with a leaky roof. The floor is mud and if it rains it becomes slushy. It is difficult staying in the house during rainy season. Most nights we have power cuts and it is difficult to study without electricity. Whenever it rains we leave our village and go and stay in the nearby school until the water dries up.'

Christian Aid believes that dalits should not be looked down on. An organisation that we work with is now helping Kala's family and other dalits by building stronger brick houses. Kala is looking forward to moving in to hers. 'It's a bigger house and we can stay well protected in all seasons,' she says. 'I can concentrate on my studies, play near my house and live safely without any fear of insects.'

'I am proud to have a brick house. I have shown my new house to my school friends. They treat me with respect and look at me differently because I now have a brick house.' 

'Now I am full of hope. I am confident that I will do well in my studies and succeed in my life with a good job. My wish is to work in the Police department.'