You’ll remember The Unconditional Appeal from 2022, which aimed to train ‘Leprosy Champions’ in Mozambique. Thanks to your kindness, we have been able to recruit and train 807 volunteers who are now on the front line of the battle to end leprosy in their country.

Every day, these remarkable volunteers bring healing and hope to remote communities. They come from all walks of life – priests, imams, traditional healers, village leaders and people cured of leprosy. They all know leprosy for what it truly is – a curable disease. They believe no-one should endure the prejudice, heartbreak and disability it often brings.

The Leprosy Champions were trained because your generous support for The Unconditional Appeal, which was awarded UK Aid Match funding. This meant that every pound donated up to £2 million was matched by the UK government. The appeal raised an incredible £4.4 million.

The Leprosy Champions have been trained to recognise the early signs of leprosy, and refer people for treatment before disability sets in. It’s a job that requires a special type of person. Someone who can demystify leprosy and turn fear into action. It doesn’t stop at diagnosis. These volunteers walk alongside someone on their leprosy journey, encouraging them every step of the way.

Through The Unconditional Appeal, 2,955 people have been cured of leprosy. Nearly half of these – 1,334 people – were referred for treatment by a Leprosy Champion! All because a volunteer with a heart like yours cared enough to be there for them.

One of the women who has been referred is Monihia, a mother of three. When unusual, discoloured patches appeared on her skin, she did what most people do in her village. She paid a visit to a traditional healer. But this healer had been trained as a Leprosy Champion, so rather than offering ineffective treatment, she sent Monihia straight to her local health post for the cure! Today, Monihia is living proof of the difference Leprosy Champions are making in Mozambique.

Monihia said: “I was the first person in my community to be diagnosed with leprosy. I didn’t know I had the disease and didn’t understand what was happening to me. I’m so thankful someone knew what was wrong and I was cured.”

The Leprosy Champions are creating a sea change in attitudes to and understanding of leprosy. The impact of your support will continue to ripple into more communities, and touch many more lives now and in the future.

Beacons of light

You’ve helped to build 22 Hubs of Hope! You’ve provided places which have become the beating heart of once disjointed communities affected by leprosy.

The Hubs, located in war-torn Cabo Delgado and Zambezia, are true beacons of light. This is literally the case as they are the only places which have electricity and internet!

Each week at the Hubs, an astounding 1,703 people affected by leprosy meet together in self-care groups. Group members check one another’s feet for cuts and grazes. They clean and bandage any wounds they find to prevent infection. This is a real risk when you can’t feel pain. Making sure injuries don’t ulcerate is the best way of preventing disability.

Most people in rural northern Mozambique survive through subsistence farming. Climate change means cyclones are increasingly frequent and destroy many harvests. At the Hubs, the farmers are taught to grow more resilient crops, such as beans. They are also advised to grow a greater variety to protect themselves should one crop fail. After feeding their families, they learn how to market any surplus crops to provide an income. It’s a fantastic way of ensuring a sustainable supply of food for everyone.

Savings groups meet at the Hub to help support anyone with a financial emergency, such as a serious medical condition. A total of 3,578 people have benefited from agricultural training and help with finances.

Monihia had farming training at her village Hub. She says it has given her a new lease of life after finishing leprosy treatment. She has been so inspired that she has teamed up with other farmers to create a community farm. They now have a more nutritious diet as well as raising an income by selling surplus produce. This social enterprise also gives away produce to those too disabled to work.

Thanks to your compassion, lifechanging work is taking place in Mozambique. Once struggling villages are being transformed into vibrant and resilient communities.