New beginnings

I always love September. Although my children are now in their twenties and the 'back to school' days are now but memories, I love the freshness of a new season. The harvest has been gathered and there is a mellow quality to the late summer days. With the fresher mornings comes a palpable excitement for the season ahead.

For youngsters returning to school this might mean a new timetable and a chance to wipe the slate clean in a new season of learning. Even for empty nesters like my wife and I, the darker evenings can bring an opportunity for lifelong learning. If we have the time and motivation, this could be a new evening class! Or perhaps simply a welcome chance to catch up on our reading as our worlds reset to 'normal' once again.

I am under no illusion that every youngster in the UK is blessed with opportunity. While my children have been fortunate to go to university, so many aren't. I was struck to hear that just 13 per cent of sixth formers in the Barrow and Furness constituency start university. This compares to 70 per cent in the leafy London suburb of Wimbledon. There is a real inequality of opportunity for young people. And let's not forget the pressure on our young people to make the 'right' career choices at such a tender age. Even if there is a chance to continue in education, picking the right course or career path can be tricky journey to navigate.

In the communities where we work in India I am always struck by the lack of ambition among young people. This is of no judgement or reflection on the youngsters themselves whatsoever. Put simply, if they come from one of India's 750 leprosy colonies, remnants of a bygone time when leprosy was incurable, there is no opportunity. The harsh reality is they will experience prejudice at school if other children find out where they live. Even selling items by the side of the road is problematic if people know 'where they are from'. It's of small wonder that the ambitions of a young person growing up in a leprosy colony often amounts to sweeping the streets. This is regardless of their gifts, talents and even if they've had leprosy themselves! The seemingly impossible task of breaking the chains of leprosy is the biggest injustice I have witnessed.

I am so thankful to work for a charity that is striving to right this cruel injustice. Through the kindness of supporters in the UK, young people affected by leprosy in India are enjoying new beginnings. As a new academic year begins in India, they are embarking on opportunities their parents and grandparents never even dared to dream of.

At our Vocational Training Centre in Champa in Chhattisgarh, 150 new students this week began learning new trades. These range from IT to sewing technology to diesel mechanics. Our six vocational training centres in India are special places of learning that truly provide a pathway out of poverty.

Chhattisgarh is one of India's poorest states. It will therefore be of no surprise for you to learn that because of the high levels of poverty, leprosy rates are also high. Out of this year's intake at Champa, 115 out of 143 students are affected by leprosy. The other students are affected by disability. I was so happy to hear that all of this year's graduates have secured skilled work! This not only demonstrates the talents and skills of the graduates, but the advocacy work undertaken by my Indian colleagues. They have gone before the students to dispel age-old myths surrounding leprosy. Because of this work the students have been recognised for the skilled professionals they are. These breakthroughs bring real hope and I for one cannot be happier.

I am equally excited to hear that the student nurses have been selected for India's first specialist leprosy nursing college! Salur Nursing College in Andhra Pradesh opens its doors in the coming weeks! Without a new generation of specialist nurses, there will be a skills shortage in our 14 hospitals in India. Among the first intake of 60 student nurses is Chintakada who you can see pictured alongside this blogpost.

Chintakada first came to Salur Hospital with her mother Aruna who was treated for leprosy and cared for at the hospital. The 18-year-old always dreamed of becoming a nurse but never believed this was possible. Firstly there would be no way she could afford the fees and also who would look after her mother? At Salur Nursing College scholarships are given to students affected by leprosy like Chintakada. Happily the new college is also near to her home. Therefore she can commute and can continue caring for her mum during her four-year course. We are so delighted to welcome Chintakada to The Leprosy Mission family! She has so much love and compassion to bring to leprosy patients in the years to come and we pray in return that she will feel blessed in her work.