news and media: news
February 2008
Alliance between American Leprosy Missions and The Leprosy Mission International
(Greenville, SC—February 21, 2008) American Leprosy Missions (ALM) and The Leprosy Mission International (TLMI) are delighted to announce that they have formed a joint alliance.
The two organizations have a long history of partnership and cooperation. Founded by Wellesley Bailey, they have a similar vision and mission and share common values. Both seek to be motivated by the example of Jesus Christ to work the marginalized people, particularly those affected by leprosy.
An alliance has been in discussion for some time, but following the International Leprosy Congress held in Hyderabad, India in early February, the senior leaders of both organizations mapped out the details of how a closer relationship might be structured.
The purpose of this alliance is to cooperate actively and purposefully together in order to increase effectiveness in working to free the world of leprosy. The alliance will:
- allow for more efficient allocation of resources,
- encourage shared technical expertise and resources,
- produce a joint project portfolio, combine representation at project and country level,
- unify processes for project monitoring and coordination.
ALM and TLMI will remain autonomous organizations. The goal of this alliance is to develop an increasingly close and more effective relationship between the two organizations. This alliance will have groundbreaking benefits for people affected by leprosy and partners organizations around the world.
Leprosy, affecting millions of people worldwide, is a human rights issue leading to devastating stigma and discrimination. In some places, it is even seen as a curse. For many, a diagnosis of leprosy can lead to loss of work, exclusion from the community, or divorce. Many people therefore hide their symptoms for as long as possible, but delaying treatment can increase the likelihood of irreversible disfigurement and disabilities, which in turn make discrimination even worse.
American Leprosy Missions is the oldest and largest organization in the United States dedicated to restoring hope and healing to people affected by leprosy and related conditions around the world. ALM is fighting to bring humanity, not rejection, back to those often cast aside by society. ALM uses systemic, holistic programs to combat and, whenever possible, reverse the physical, spiritual, socio-economic, and educational erosion that devastates the lives of those affected by this disease.
For more information about TLMI’s worldwide ministry, please visit www.leprosymission.org.
