Support Women Affected by Leprosy With a Gift of Love - Mina's Story (Impact)

When Mina was diagnosed with leprosy, her world changed.

“I felt deeply sad and lost,” she says.

 But today, thanks to support from The Leprosy Mission and generous people like you, Mina shares her story with a smile.

It started in the fields—another worker accidentally hit her arm, but she didn’t feel a thing. Concerned, Mina saw a doctor and was diagnosed with leprosy. Fearful of stigma, she asked staff to keep it quiet.

“I finished my medicine and didn’t really tell anyone,” Mina tells us.

“It was only when I discovered other member in my community taking the medicine, I started talking to them and coming out.”

Mina knew other people were suffering the same way she was. After talking with Leprosy Mission staff, she took the initiative and formed a Self-Help Group! She chaired the group, and has moved on to helping run a special agricultural cooperative.

“Compared to before putting the Self-Help Group together, I feel very different,” Mina says. “Before the IMPACT project, nobody knew about me. But now… even the local government invites me to meetings and discussions.”

A few years ago, Mina took out a small loan to start her farm. Today, it’s a thriving business providing income for her family—and she’s working toward expanding it to create jobs for others.

Greg Clarke, CEO of Leprosy Mission Australia, personally visited her banana farm. 

You can be part of Mina’s story. A Gift of Love, like the $40 Farmer’s Toolbox, gives someone affected by leprosy the tools and training to build a better future.

Together, we’re not just treating leprosy—we’re restoring dignity, livelihoods, and hope.