We had our monthly charity meeting on 3rd Jan 2021 via skype. We started out as always looking at the finances and when funds needed to be sent for a monthly supply of food and medicines. We then got creative, looking at various projects that could assist the community. One suggestion is to publish a cookery book and calendar. The cookery book would also include stories from individuals in the community about there experiences of living with Leprosy. We have just learnt today that David is filming them cooking as a first step in creating the book.
We also looked at how we could improve their living conditions. An assessment of the communities buildings in the past was rather dispiriting as it was established that it would cost approximately £100K to demolish and rebuild one of the blocks which currently is uninhabitable. David Lima had informed us recently that it could also take at least five years before work could begin. We are therefore looking at various cheaper and more practical options.
We also talked about setting up a fund for special projects that could be directly managed by the community. This could include projects to generate income etc but also projects to generally improve the quality of their lives. We recently discovered from David Lima that there was a real longing from the community to go to the sea which many had never done before. We are looking into making this possible and the fund could in future be used for this kind of outing or project. It is important for the moral of the community and therefore their health that they have distractions from their often routine and bland day to day life.
Just before Christmas we celebrated with the community via skype. We had sent funds so these two 5 year old boys could have shoes for the first time in their lives. Also we used funds to by a music system for the community as they have no other entertainment. We joined them to celebrate and danced with them as best we could.