Who we support

Leprosy can affect anyone. But the biggest impact is on people living in poverty or marginalised from society. These are the people we support.

Globally, women are most affected by the barriers that stop people accessing healthcare and achieving a good standard of living. So we design and implement programmes that promote equity and challenge gender-based disadvantage.

Discrimination based on things like age, race, religion, disability, sexuality and class intersects to marginalise people further. So our work is always informed by the local context – never one-size-fits-all.

The poorest and most marginalised people are worst affected by the effects of climate change. So protecting the environment and increasing people’s resilience to natural disasters is vital to help people affected by leprosy. We support sustainable farming, tree planting and renewable energy projects to transform lives for good. And we are working hard to reduce the environmental impact of our work at home and overseas.

Dullari's story

Dullari, 42, is Vice-President of her Self-Help Group in rural Nepal. When she was diagnosed with leprosy, she told no one except her husband. But through training provided by The Leprosy Mission’s Dignity First project in Nepal, Dullari gained new skills, including understanding her rights, advocacy, and climate resilient farming.

Once confined to her home, Dullari now spends her days encouraging other women to save for emergencies, plan together, and speak up. “People often tell me I have answers to every question,” she says. “But I remember when I first joined the self-help group, I hid my face even while drinking tea. Now we go together to the district government to speak about our group.”

Today, women in her community encourage their daughters and daughters-in-law to follow Dullari’s example. She is admired for her courage, leadership, and advocacy for people affected by leprosy.

Read the latest news about the people and projects we support

Header image: Sabrina Dangol