Victoria Hospital, now operated by the Church of South India, was established in Dichpalli in 1915.  When it commenced it was one of the few pioneering hospitals in India to treat leprosy patients. Over the years leprosy patients have established villages around its perimeter because they were not able to return to their own homes. The age-old stigma associated with the disease made them unwelcome. Even today people living in these villages, although cured or never even having had the disease, are rejected by society. There is an extreme level of poverty and many depend on the support of charities to survive

The project aims to alleviate the poverty of the children of these patients by providing them with vocational training.  Children receive training in carpentry, brick making, masonry, tailoring, embroidery, electrical repair and plumbing.

Each course generally takes a year to complete with the first six months being made up of theory and the second six months giving students practical experience. After the training has been completed, the project ensures the students continue to meet regularly. As the students find work and begin earning money they are encouraged to open a savings account and start to save some of their income each month.

As part of Social Education activities, training in preparing nutritious food, poultry keeping, flower bed making, raising kitchen gardens, and healthy living have been provided.

Downloadable Resources:

Project Sheet