Our Global SEED Partners support our vital work in 5 leprosy-affected countries - China, Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Ethiopia. Below is a snapshot of the progress made in each country over the last 12 months.

CHINA

In China we work with HANDA Rehabilitation and Welfare Association. Their vision is a world without stigma and discrimination. As well as doing vital awareness-raising and advocacy work, HANDA provides medical services to people living with disabilities as a result of leprosy.

In 2009, with the support of our SEED Partners, HANDA's Mobile Eye Surgery team spent 132 days travelling to 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.

Our SEED Partners have also given hope to leprosy-affected people and families who have suffered deeply from the stigma and discrimination surrounding the disease in China:

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.

"Twice I attempted suicide, and not because I was hungry.  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 gradually edged my way over to them 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."

NEPAL

In Nepal we support the CAP Project - Community Active Participation. Regular donations from our SEED Partners have helped provide vital training and resources to self-help groups, giving members the skills and confidence they need to become socially and economically independent.  SEED Partners have helped fund:

• Awareness raising and confidence building activities that address social issues such as stigma, discrimination and women's rights.
• Leadership training so that each group has a strong and skilled leader.
• Community development activities such as the installation of hand pumps.
• Non-formal education classes where participants can learn to read and write.
• The establishment of savings and loans schemes so that group members can access funds to set up small businesses.
• The provision of education scholarships for children.
• Training on setting up and running small businesses and other income-generating activities.

'I am very happy with the CAP Project whose support has helped reduce social stigma of leprosy in our society. I am able to speak out against social discrimination in my community. Community people are also helping me and I have no problem fetching water from public places. My economic condition has been improving day by day. I am able to manage my daily life and my children are going to school. My confidence has increased and I hope I can do more to further myself.' Sunaina Devi Dhanuk

INDIA

In Muzzafarpur, our SEED Partners are helping to fund a Community Leprosy Hospital. Over the last twelve months, hundreds of leprosy-affected people have benefited from treatment and surgery:

• 589 people were newly diagnosed with leprosy.
• 497 of them received multi-drug therapy.
• 51 leprosy-affected people had reconstructive surgery.
• 39 leprosy-affected people had cataract surgery.
• 387 leprosy-affected people received ulcer care.
• 43 leprosy-affected people were treated for reaction and Neuritis.
• Protective footwear has been provided on an ongoing basis to leprosy affected people.

In Faizabad, our SEED Partners are helping to fund a Vocational Training Centre. In the last year, 130 leprosy-affected people have received training and can now look forward to a brighter future:

• 130 students enrolled in courses, up from 110 in the previous year.
• To date, 120 students have completed their training, and scored 70% or more in their exams.
• 110 of these students secured jobs within 3 months of graduating.
• 3 small business loans were given to graduates from the Cutting and Sewing course.
• A third of the students were female - up from one fifth in the previous year.
• A further 130 students are set to begin their training in August 2010.

Neeraj's Story

'While I was in hospital receiving treatment for my leprosy I heard about the Vocational Training Centre run by the Leprosy Mission in Faizabad and went to see it. I joined the cutting and sewing trade and I am enjoying the training. I also take pleasure in helping others in my class. This disease has changed my life and fate for good. I always wanted to be a tailor and only after being affected by leprosy did I get the chance to come to Faizabad Vocational Training Centre. After completing my training I will be able to run my own work and provide livelihoods for others by giving them work in my shop. I want to be a successful tailor and be an example for others as a leprosy affected person.'

ETHIOPIA

In Ethiopia we are working in partnership with ENAPAL (Ethiopian National Association of People Affected by Leprosy) to support leprosy-affected people and communities.

The Grain Mills

Our SEED Partners have helped fund the Grain Mills Project which is providing a vital income source for leprosy-affected people and their families.

The goal of the Grain Mills Project in Addis Ababa is to enable people affected by leprosy to support themselves by milling grains like wheat, barley, pepper and teff - the latter of which is used by the wider community to make injera, a type of bread that is eaten with every meal. The mills are owned and run entirely by people affected by leprosy.

The mills are already generating much needed income and a portion of the profits (along with funding our SEED partners) has been used to build a bake house and shop. This has given local women affected by leprosy the opportunity to generate their own income by baking and selling injera bread.

The project is also helping in the fight against stigma and discrimination. People from the local area are now buying their grains from the mills which is helping break down barriers between leprosy-affected people and the wider community. This is an amazing achievement in a country where leprosy-affected people and their families are often seen as outcasts. We couldn't have achieved this without your support.

BANGLADESH

Leprosy is still a major issue in Bangladesh. With the help of our SEED Partners:

• 17,067 community members have been educated about leprosy and other health related issues.
• 50 self-help groups have been set up and all of the members have received training on the causes and consequences of leprosy, hygiene, nutrition and basic human rights.
• 50 students have received education scholarships.
• 14 new houses have been built for leprosy-affected people and their families.
• 210 new cases of leprosy have been detected.
• 11 leprosy-affected people have received reconstructive surgery.
• 154 doctors, nurses, paramedics, rural medical practitioners, and health and family planning staff have received training about leprosy.
• 1,340 school teachers have received training about leprosy and been able to share their knowledge with their students and the broader community.
• 122 training programmes about leprosy, health and human rights have been held in schools and colleges.
• 37 community volunteers have been trained to recognise the symptoms of leprosy and identify new cases.

"The Leprosy Mission saved my life. If they did not help me I would have died. I pray to God for the Leprosy Mission and its staff. I have no big dreams in my life. I only want to live and eat three meals a day. I am very grateful to the Leprosy Mission for my new house." Gulchogi Chakma

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