Leprosy is a chronic, infectious disease of the nerves and skin. It is curable yet the stigma and discrimination may last a lifetime, leading to poverty. This project will help support the school needs, health care, and counselling of 30 Filipino children and young adults who have leprosy or whose parents have been disabled by leprosy. Formal education and skills training will enable them to gain income, escape poverty, overcome stigma and discrimination, be productive and live with dignity.
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease of the nerves and skin that leads to disability and stigma. It is curable but may have complications like blindness, damaged hands or feet. Livelihoods are lost due to the physical disability or worse, the discrimination and stigma. Many children of leprosy patients start school but drop out in the middle of the school year because their parents can not fully provide for them. Some children cannot even start. Many become impoverished.
We can stop the cycle of leprosy and poverty by helping patients, as well as the children of disabled patients, stay in school or learn vocational skills. We can provide support for either internet costs, transportation, school supplies, uniforms, tuition, or graduation expenses, plus health care and counselling. We monitor their progress together with community partners. We help them cope with the difficulties of having leprosy and its complications, both physical and socioeconomic.
The project will support 30 persons affected by leprosy through schooling or vocational courses. Formal education and skills training are key to reducing stigma and discrimination borne of leprosy. Education is empowering, transforming, and provides lasting impacts. Leprosy-affected individuals eventually earn income, manage resources appropriately, learn life skills, become productive and respected members of society rather than burdens, and lead lives of dignity.