Learning Hub — Artisan

Shaheen was only 14 when leprosy affected her hands, making it impossible to write or hold a pen. But today, thanks to a vocational training scholarship and physiotherapy, she can sew garments with precision and confidence. Her journey began at the Vocational Training Centre, where supporters like you funded her education and recovery. 

Chanda has been a Dhaka weaver at New SADLE since 1996. What started as a teenage skill became a career that transformed her family’s life. Today, she supervises her team and supports her son through school and her daughter through university in the UK—all thanks to her fair trade work. 

Your continuing support helps artisans like Radhika! Radhika has worked at New SADLE for nearly 30 years. That’s how long your shopping has made a difference in her life! Radhika and her team make traditional Batik for products like handmade cards. They draw beautiful designs on material in wax, and dye them to make the imprint permanent. All the artisans that Radhika oversees in the Batik department are affected by leprosy or polio. You can see what an amazing job they do! Because of the ongoing support of your shopping, Radhika has been able send both of her children to...

Your shopping helps women like Evangeline break out of poverty! It takes a lot to escape poverty. This can be especially true for women like Evangeline. It takes access to an opportunity — and your shopping can provide that opportunity! Evangeline grew up in a leprosy colony. Her father had leprosy and the only way he could get money for his family was begging on the streets. They struggled to get by as a family of six with little money. Evangeline left school after Grade 9 and taught herself how to use the sewing machine at home. She was eligible...

It’s a whole Cure Package! Lalsari and her son Bishal have spent many long stays at The Leprosy Mission’s Anandaban Hospital in Nepal.  Although they are cured of leprosy now, their initial Multi-Drug Therapy was required for 24 months! That’s double the usual 12 months of daily medicine it takes to be considered cured of leprosy in most cases. Their leprosy bacterial count was still way too high after one year, so they had to stay on it much longer. They feel so blessed that people like you have been supporting them throughout their extended treatment. Their family could have...