Youth came forward to support the awareness campaign #YouAreNotAlone
As part of its Young Partners Program (YPP), Sasakawa-India Leprosy Foundation (S-ILF), a charitable organization dedicated to mainstream leprosy affected and cured people through economic and social empowerment, organized a workshop to spread awareness about leprosy to the students of Social Sciences of at the Central University of Rajasthan. The program was inaugurated by Head of Social Work Department, Dr. Subhasis Bhadra.
Following a short film screening on leprosy, depicting the life of individuals living in leprosy colonies and the hardships they face in their day to day life, students went on to formulate a plan of action to disseminate the message of demystifying leprosy.
“We want to leave no stone unturned to provide a dignified life and equal opportunities to those affected by leprosy and their families. Sensitisation workshops help us in raising Awareness, understanding and acceptance of those affected by leprosy and dispel fears about the disease and the consequent stigma against it. I urge the Youth to support our cause and help us spread the word. It is indeed a concern that India still has large numbers of new cases and accounts for the highest global burden of leprosy”,saidDr Vineeta Shanker, Executive Director Sasakawa-India Leprosy Foundation.
S-ILF provides multiple platforms for youth to engage with it in spreading the word. This offers the sensitised young minds to interact with other youth from various leprosy colonies. S-ILF’s Annual Youth festival is organised on the eve of Anti-Leprosy day every year. This year, it will be organised from 26 to 29 January 2019 in New Delhi.