There’s more to us than leprosy! Studious Sita and her sister say thanks to people like you!

I met Sita at The Leprosy Mission’s Anandaban Hospital on my recent trip to Nepal. She’s just 15 years old, and now the primary carer for her 25-year-old sister.

Sita lives in Kathmandu at a former leprosy colony, with her sister, who is affected by leprosy. They were recently compelled to move there from their home village, because of the severe stigma Sita’s sister faced from her family.

Sita told me, “My sister does not want to return to our home village. Our elder brother particularly hated her. He used to say bad words to her and sometimes beat her.”

Sita’s sister also has a spinal injury and needs crutches to walk, so Sita helps her with her daily activities. She washes her sister’s clothes, helps her bathe and sometimes helps her go to the toilet.

Before they moved to Kathmandu, they lived at Anandaban Hospital for five months following surgery on Sita’s sister’s foot. They are so grateful for the care and treatment, they received there.

Thanks to the support of people like you.

Sita has also been supported through The Leprosy Mission with a scholarship by global education provider, Navitas.

“I feel things are easy now because I have been able to pay my school fees on time and bought a school dress.“ she said.

Sita and her sister now live in government housing and also receive support from the government for food, oil and gas. Sita tells me, “It is enough for us both”.

But Sita also has big dreams she has not lost sight of: “Since I was a child, I have wanted to join the army because they serve the people. When I finish school I would like to join the army!” she says.

Please pray that Sita completes her education and can continue to support her sister.

(By April Holmes, International Programs Officer)

If you’d like to provide a scholarship for someone like Sita, please donate by calling 1800 LEPROSY (1800 537 767) or go to the Nepal Education Program page