Dakshin Foundation 180d ago

Aatruvaai means “river mouth” in Tamil. Once central to daily life in Karangad, Tamil Nadu, this stream fed mangroves, opened into the sea and created a shared space where coastal families bathed, gathered and prepared for work. Over the years, increasing plastic waste blocked the inlet and the stream disappeared beneath layers of litter. In this film, Josephine, a fellow of Dakshin Foundation’s Coastal Grassroots Fellowship, traces what happened to the river mouth. She listens to elders, documents how the space has changed and begins conversations in her village about how these commons can be restored and cared for again. Her story highlights the impact of the Coastal Grassroots Fellowship, a year-long experiential programme that builds leadership among coastal women and enables them to understand, reclaim and strengthen the coastal spaces their communities depend on. Learn more about the fellowship here: https://youtu.be/v_rWVXhuOW8?si=Ey1g_ZBbWnJVWKLx Visit our website: www.dakshin.org Credits: Funding support: Environmental Defense Fund Additional support: Rainmatter LGT Venture Philanthropy Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies Dakshin team Aarthi Sridhar Aarthika R Adithya Pillai Pavithran M M Musthafa Naveen Namboothri Nayana Udayashankar Shamili Mohanakannan Thisam Mahsana Velumani T Produced by Dakshin Foundation Filmed and Edited by Rahul Demello