Since 1912 The Leprosy Mission New Zealand has been helping thousands of people in more than 31 countries. As a Christian development organisation we work with those affected by leprosy without regard to their race, creed, religion or gender.
Motivated by Jesus Christ, and dependent on God's grace, we partner with individuals, families, communities and organizations to share resources, experience and learning. By eradicating the causes and consequences of leprosy, we support the right of all people in a community to a life of dignity.
We encourage grass roots participation, since this approach empowers those we work with and ensures each project's sustainability. So every decision we make must not only benefit those we are trying to help, but also ensure everyone involved is treated with dignity and respect. Upon this platform our Strategic Plan for 2009-12 was created. We're proud of this document and invite you to review it here.
Our Commitment to "The Right to a Life of Dignity"
The Right to a Life of Dignity, is our renewed commitment to eradicate the causes and consequences of leprosy. It is our call for collective action to take sides with people experiencing leprosy, disability and social exclusion, and to support their ideas, aspirations and actions.
It is an offer of partnership, an offer to join hands with our supporters and others in eradicating the causes and consequences of leprosy and fighting for justice and dignity.
We are continually informed and inspired by the resilience, ingenuity and struggles of people experiencing leprosy, disability and social exclusion, and the communities in which we work. Our resolve is constantly strengthened by the progress, be it big or small, that people experiencing leprosy make in claiming and expanding their voices, choices and rights towards a dignified life. We will walk alongside people experiencing leprosy, disability and social exclusion and support every step and action they take in claiming their rights. There are some gains and achievements so far, but not enough. We must keep up the pace and continue the fight.
The world around us is changing fast and the context of our work is getting ever more complex. This strategy recognises and responds to the changing context of our work. It is about staying on course with our agenda. Responding to new challenges and bringing focus to our work.
This ambitious strategy relates directly to the enormity of our mission. We place high priority on our partnerships, in particular with grassroots membership organisations made up of people experiencing leprosy. Their full participation as equal partners with us in discussions and decision-making is our response to their plea, "Please don't talk about us and make decisions for us, without us." We strengthen our focus on women's rights because we believe that the eradication of the causes and consequences of leprosy will simply not be possible without ensuring safety, security and dignity for women experiencing leprosy, who otherwise stand to lose the most.
We set ambitions for making a significant impact at an international level because we believe that progress at the local and national level cannot be achieved or sustained without changing unjust structures, policies and laws that are dictated by powerful world players.
This strategy, and the priorities in it, reflects the ambition of us all in The Leprosy Mission New Zealand. Many of us, along with our partners and people experiencing leprosy, contributed to the development of this strategy. Let us now translate the strategy into actions and results.
Ross Dillon David Hall Chair, Board of Trustees Executive Director TLMNZ 15th November 2008
Our Vision: A world without leprosy
Our Global Goal: To eradicate the causes and consequences of leprosy
Our Mandate: The Leprosy Mission New Zealand, relying on the grace of God and motivated by Jesus Christ, exists to join in mutual partnership with individuals, families, communities and organisations to share resources, experience and learning in order to eradicate the causes and consequences of leprosy, and actively supports the right to a life of dignity for all people.
Our Values: Our values are modelled on Jesus and we rely on the grace of God to demonstrate this in our actions and in our prayers. Accordingly we act with:
Courage of Conviction, working with integrity, being creative and radical, bold and innovative - without fear of failure - in pursuit of making the greatest possible impact on eradicating the causes and consequences of leprosy
Transparency and Honesty, being professional and accountable at all levels, including to people experiencing the causes and consequences of leprosy, for the effectiveness of our actions and open in our communications with others
Equity and Justice, requiring us to work to ensure equal opportunity and human rights of everyone experiencing the causes and consequences of leprosy; irrespective of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, HIV status, colour, class, ethnicity, disability, location and religion
Humility and Mutual Respect, in our presentation and behaviour, working in partnerships, listening and learning, recognising that we are part of a wider alliance committed to eradicating the causes and consequences of leprosy
Solidarity, with people experiencing the causes and consequences of leprosy will be our only bias as we advocate with them for their human rights, freedom and dignity.
Our Collective Promise: As long as Leprosy affects individuals and communities, we are committed to doing all we can to break its power and impact. For The Leprosy Mission New Zealand this means we are called to collective action to take sides with people experiencing leprosy, disability and social exclusion, and to support their ideas, aspirations and actions. It is an offer of partnership, an offer to join hands with our supporters and others in eradicating the causes and consequences of leprosy and fighting for justice and dignity.
The world around us is changing fast and the context of our work is getting ever more complex. We recognise and respond to the changing context of our work. It is about staying on course with our agenda. Responding to new challenges and bringing focus to our work.
We place high priority on our partnerships, in particular with grassroots membership organisations made up of people experiencing leprosy. Their full participation as equal partners with us in discussions and decision-making is our response to their plea, "Please don't talk about us and make decisions for us, without us."
We strengthen our focus on women's rights because we believe that the eradication of the causes and consequences of leprosy will simply not be possible without ensuring safety, security and dignity for women experiencing leprosy, who otherwise stand to lose the most.
The Leprosy Mission New Zealand by its activities and actions will always promote the value of each person, all of whom are created in the image of God, as exemplified by the life of Jesus Christ and revealed in the Christian scriptures. These will be reflected by giving priority to authentic partnerships and participation which are God-given principles illustrated by the relationship of the Trinity.
