Advocacy
Helping people to speak up for their rights is a powerful tool
Most people in leprosy communities don’t know that they are entitled to government benefits (e.g. disability pensions) and certainly don’t know how to apply for them.
Brighter Future works with a fantastic Pastor called Elisha. He is disabled by leprosy himself and understands all the effects of the disease.
Working with Elisha, Brighter Future has established a state-recognised association for people affected by leprosy, SLAP (Society of Leprosy-Affected People in Andhra Pradesh).
SLAP is a bridge between people with leprosy, local government, community organisations and political figures. It brings people together from 45 colonies across Andhra Pradesh and helps communities to get electricity supplies, road access, disability pensions, bus passes, food ration cards, and many other benefits.
This means Brighter Future no longer has to pay for things that the government should be funding.
Despite Elisha's amazing work, there are still 11 leprosy colonies in Andhra Pradesh that need your support.
1,500 residents desperately need medical care, protective footwear, improved housing and sanitation, education for children, and many other things that we take for granted here in the UK. Could you help these people?
Pastor Elisha's mission to help people affected by leprosy
Chigula Papa Rao, known as Pastor Elisha, is nothing short of an inspiration. He’s nearly 60 years old now but was just ten when he first noticed a strange white patch on his body.
He says:
I had just moved to Orissa with my family and was in the first few weeks at a new school when my grandfather noticed white patches on my arms. When he pressed the patches I couldn’t feel anything, so he took me to a local clinic for tests. I was so scared, but had no idea of how bad things were about to get for me.
When I found out that I had leprosy, my parents told me that I was no longer part of the family
I was so depressed and found it hard to cope with such painful rejection from the people I loved. It’s something a child should never have to go through.
It took all the courage I had to decide to return home, in the hope that I would be wanted again. When I finally arrived at my village, I was shocked to find out that my parents and grandfather had died. At least I have two sisters I thought, but they refused to talk to me and I was devastated to see the hatred in their eyes. My home was gone forever.
I ran away from my family and joined the Sagar Circus Company, travelling around the country. I was desperate to belong somewhere.
Within four years leprosy had basically destroyed me. My fingers wouldn’t move and I couldn’t lift my feet properly. I was always injuring myself because I couldn’t feel anything. There was no way I could hide that I had leprosy anymore; the secret was out. I was asked to leave the circus.
The path to healing
Thankfully someone in the village took pity on me and told me about Palakonda Leprosy Hospital. The hospital staff treated my leprosy and sent me to school. Sadly, they could not heal my disabled hands, but they showed me the way to a complete healing of my life. I heard Bible stories and about the love of the great Lord Jesus. He loved me even though I had leprosy. He loved me even though my body didn’t work properly.
I gave my life to Jesus and was baptised. I stayed on the hospital campus until I was 20. After that I travelled around leprosy colonies in Orissa, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh. The Lord used this experience to teach me about the needs of people with leprosy, and I dedicated my life to help them. I started to take groups of people affected by leprosy to the local government offices and lobby for disability pensions, wheelchairs, and schooling for children.
In 2002, I heard about Brighter Future and the wonderful work they were doing. I met Victor Parisipogula and decided that this was where I should be.
Since then, I have been part of life-changing programmes like housing, sanitation, and self-help groups. Of course, I have continued advocating for people in leprosy colonies.
Now, as well as government benefits, many colonies have electricity and roads. In March 2013, I was elected as the Vice President of SLAP.
By the grace of God, I got married to Prasanna and we have two children – our son Devdaas, and daughter Nayomi. I’ve also got four grandchildren. My family are so important to me and I feel truly blessed.