Podi is a Sri Lankan fisherman who lives in a wooden beach shack in Gurubebila on the south coast of the island with his wife Sumatra and his 8 year old daughter Nathhmi Esara.

I had the privilege to meet him last month and fish with him for two weeks. We became friends.

On the first occasion I met him he landed a 10Kg Giant Trevally on a hand line with sardine live bait from the rocks. The technique was remarkable, once hooked he launched himself into the surf, on a reef, and wrestled the creature to the beach. It took him 40 minutes and transformed his week - 6,000 Rupee, aprox. £30, more than a month's income for his family. His joy was palpable.

Over the 2 weeks we were with him he taught our children to fish from the poles. He would say "as long as the babies are happy, so am I". Our children befriended his daughter. Such a rift of opportunity and wealth which simply didn't matter to them. they all became friends.

Podi has a decent seaworthy fishing boat but lost his engine in the 2004 tsunami.

I would like to get an engine for his boat to him. It would transform his income and his family's life. For every 1000 Rupee he currently earns, 900 goes to his wife and daughter. His weekly income is barely enough to keep them fed and safe. He is a good family man who risks his life every day to keep everything together for them.

I know for every Podi, there are a thousand more. I hope we can help one at a time.