Over the last 12 months, generous donations from our Nepal SEED Partners have been making a real and lasting difference in the Bara District of Nepal, where we support the CAP Project - Community Active Participation. We are pleased to report that hundreds of leprosy-affected individuals and their families are benefiting both socially and economically from the project.

Bara District of Nepal

• Leprosy is still very prevalent.
• Access to health care is extremely limited.
• Poverty is widespread.
• Most individuals and their families rely on subsistence farming or other high-labour, low-return work.

Community Active Participation Project

Thanks to the support of our SEED Partners, we are able to support the CAP Project in three key areas:

• Providing leprosy-affected people and their families with the resources they need to generate an income and become self-sufficient.
• Building a strong sense of community where leprosy-affected people are accepted and valued by their families, friends and the wider members of their village.
• Improving the health of the community by educating people and families about common infectious and waterborne diseases.

Self-Help Groups

Self-help groups are at the heart of the CAP Project and have been a vital part of its success. They have given hope to people who have come to expect little from life after years of living in poverty while facing stigma and discrimination on a daily basis. Each group is made up of community members who are socially and economically excluded due to leprosy or disability.  Your regular gifts are providing a life-line for these individuals and their families.

Achievements...

The CAP Project is transforming the lives of people and families affected by leprosy. 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 and learning about water-borne diseases.
• 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 and income-generating activities.
• Training on setting up and running small businesses and income-generating activities.
• The provision of education scholarships for children.

Johera Khatun's Story

Sixteen years ago a local health worker noticed white patches on Johera's skin and advised her to visit the district hospital to see if she had leprosy. She followed his advice and upon visiting the hospital was diagnosed with leprosy and given a course of multi-drug therapy. She was cured of the disease, and because she caught it early was not left with any ongoing disabilities.

Sadly, Johera's husband died a few years later, leaving her to provide for their two children. She did the best she could, but it was tough to earn enough money and she struggled to support herself and her family. To make things worse, she was discriminated against in her village as it was known that she had once suffered from leprosy.

Then, Johera was given the opportunity to join a self-help group through the CAP Project. She received training on setting up and running a small business and participated in awareness raising and confidence building activities.  She was able to take a loan from the group and start a bangle business in her local village.  Her business did well and she was able to pay back the loan within six months.

Johera is now very happy with her life. Her situation has continued to improve and she is able to look after her family without worrying about where their next meal will come from. Her daughter is doing well thanks to an education scholarship provided by the CAP Project.  Her social life has also improved and she has developed good relationships with the other members of her self-help group.

"Now I believe that I can do more with my life," she says.

Community Voices

  'I understand and learnt the value of saving and borrowing within the self-help group. I thank the CAP Project and other members of the community for their support in my social life also. I am now interested in becoming a social worker and want to help other poor and exploited people in my village.' Bachiya Devi

'Before the CAP Project there was high discrimination towards leprosy affected people and women at all levels in our community. Now I am an active member of a group and involved in social development activities. We are getting more cooperation from the community peoples.' Shreepati Devi Ram

'I would like to thank all CAP staff for their support which is helping to ensure I have a brighter future.' Siya Kumari Pathak

'CAP project is helping us improve our social and economic conditions. Thanks CAP for the opportunity to gain knowledge of more things in my old age, I will never forget you.' Duhkit Pathak

Looking to the future....

Thanks to our SEED Partners, the Leprosy Mission New Zealand has been able to support the CAP project for 5 years. With a small injection of funds from us the project activities will be able to run by themselves. This is an extremely positive outcome for the community and you were part of making it happen!

Become a SEED Partner now.