In China we work with HANDA Rehabilitation and Welfare Association.

• HANDA Rehabilitation and Welfare Association came in to being to provide much-needed support to hundreds of leprosy-affected people living in Southern China who do not receive any assistance from the government.
• Governed by leprosy-affected people, for leprosy-affected people, their vision is a world without stigma and discrimination. They fight for equal rights and justice for individuals, families and communities who have received medical treatment for their leprosy but are still affected by disability and ongoing discrimination.
• HANDA also provides ongoing medical support such as the provision of prosthetic limbs and protective devices, and support for ulcer self-care. Many of the people and families they work with are still living in remote leprosy villages.

Thanks to our SEED Partners, we are able to support HANDA's work in three key areas:

• Providing life-changing eye surgery to people living in isolated leprosy-affected villages.
• Providing psychological and social support to individuals and families experiencing stigma and discrimination.
• Helping HANDA grow as an organisation so they can reach out to more leprosy-affected individuals and their families.

HANDA also provides these vital services to leprosy-affected individuals and their families:

• Surgery to restore eye-sight.
• Health-training so that leprosy-affected people can look after themselves and their families.
• Provision and maintenance of prosthetic limbs, protective shoes, wheel chairs and crutches to give leprosy-affected people their mobility back.
• Vocational and skills training.
• Provision of small loans to help leprosy-affected people generate an income.
• Publicity campaigns to educate the public about the causes and consequences of leprosy.
• Support for leprosy-affected people so they can restore their confidence and sense of self-worth.

Here are some of HANDA's remarkable achievements that our China SEED Partners have helped fund over the last 12 months:

Eye Sight Saving Project

"Can you guess what my favourite time is? I bet you can't. The most delightful time is I can see what I am eating! I used to live in darkness; I lost my ability to look after myself. But now, after the operation, my life became totally different and meaningful. I can see things around me clearly and cook for myself." Qui Yongde, a recipient of eye surgery.

In 2009, HANDA's Mobile Eye Surgery team spent 132 days travelling to 46 remote leprosy-affected villages where they:

• Examined and treated 1171 leprosy-affected people.
• Performed 282 cataract surgeries.
• Performed 279 lens implants.
• Performed 82 plastic surgeries.
• Distributed 199 pairs of reading glasses and 326 pairs of protective glasses.
• Provided 419 people with much-needed prescription drugs.
• Trained 11 health care workers in basic eye care, and provided them with the necessary medicine and tools.

Social and Psychological Support

HANDA is determined to fight the devastating stigma and discrimination that too often accompany leprosy in China. Recent activities have included:

• A successful series of publicity campaigns that educated hundreds of college students in Guangdong Province about the causes and consequences of leprosy. The campaign was so successful that many students signed up as HANDA volunteers.
• Publicity campaigns in local villages that helped to build relationships between people affected by leprosy and the broader community.
• The launch of a fundraising and awareness raising campaign called 'Changing Waste into Love.' College students collected unwanted items and sold them on campus. All of the money raised was used to support leprosy-affected people living with disability.
• Other activities to raise awareness included radio broadcasts, street theatre, photo exhibitions and the distribution of brochures.

Breaking down barriers in Linglong Village

Stigma and discrimination have been an ongoing problem for leprosy-affected people and their families living in Linglong, a leprosy village in the Guangdong Province of China. HANDA decided it was time to take action and ran a publicity campaign in the neighbouring communities to educate people about the causes and consequences of leprosy.  On the second day of the campaign they invited community members to Linglong Village to take part in friendship building activities. The results were remarkable!

"We have noticed your publicity about leprosy, and today I was sent here by my village to have a look. I see that the environment here is pleasant and from now on we will not be afraid to come here anymore" Member of neighbouring community.

"Ever since then the villagers and students in our neighbourhood have brought rice and other food to cook with us on holidays. And they chat with us. Now our village has become much livelier" Member of Linglong Village.

Su Bingpei's Story

Su was born in 1934. When he was an adult he contracted leprosy and was forced to sever all ties with his family and live in a remote leprosy village. He became deeply troubled by the lack of contact with his family and desperately wanted love and care.

"Twice I attempted suicide, and not because I was hungry. I saw some truly terrible things. I saw people like me burnt or buried alive. I saw people eating tree roots because there was nothing else to eat. I had children but was all alone in the world. At 75 I had never seen my grandchildren. This was because I had leprosy.

In October 2006, two HANDA volunteers arrived in our village. I gazed at them from a distance but did not have the confidence to approach them. I gradually edged my way over and we chatted companionably until the afternoon. When they left they held their hands out to say goodbye. 'Aren't you frightened to touch us?' I asked them. One of them smiled and said, 'What is there to be afraid of? We're just the same as you!

Since them, the volunteers have come back regularly to visit us. One evening around the camp fire there was music and dancing. One of the volunteers grabbed my hand and pulled me into the merrymaking. With my heart gladdened and spirits raised, I danced my first steps in years.

I didn't know about it, but around this time the head of our village telephoned my daughter and told her about our visitors. You can imagine my astonishment when the next visitors who turned up a day later were my own daughter and her 18 year-old son! I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. After all my years of sadness and solitude, there they were in front of me.

I will be eternally grateful to the HANDA volunteers for coming to our village. They have changed our lives with their help and kindness. Today, there is sunshine in my heart. I don't feel depressed anymore and I know that when I die, I will rest in peace."

Helping HANDA Grow

HANDA's long term success rests on their ability to develop into a strong and resilient organisation. The work they are doing is vital, and we are pleased to be helping them grow so they can reach out to more leprosy-affected people and their families.  Over the last 12 months the focus has been on training the Governance Committee so that all members have the knowledge and experience they need to effectively govern HANDA.

Looking to the future.....

At present, the vast majority of funding for HANDA's services and activities comes from overseas agencies, including the Leprosy Mission New Zealand. This means that our SEED Partners have been vital for HANDA's survival! Over the next few years HANDA will be increasing its focus on local fundraising with the goal of becoming more self-sufficient. In the meantime, we will continue to support their work as we believe that the work they are doing is making a significant impact in the lives of leprosy-affected people and their families.

Become a SEED Partner now.