OUR VISION
Leprosy affected families rise above leprosy, integrate into society and prosper - leading healthy, happy, productive and dignified lives.
OUR MISSION
Udayan empowers the children and young adults of leprosy affected families through education, holistic development, and vocational and professional courses for livelihoods. By providing them with a safe space to grow and learn, and educating families on the value of education, we create an enabling environment for children to ‘rise above leprosy.’
ABOUT US
UDAYAN, a residential home and school for leprosy patients’ children, was founded by Rev. J.G.Stevens, OBE on March 25th 1970 after receiving guidance and advice from Mother Teresa - "The children of leprosy affected are the most marginalised" she said.
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For over 55 years, UDAYAN has provided love, care and a brighter future thousands of children and their families, who come from the leprosy colonies of West Bengal and Jharkhand in India. What originally started with just eleven children, today caters to 110 girls and 200 boys.
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The children here range from 4 to 18 years of age, the children come from leprosy affected homes, and have at least one parent who suffers from the disease. About 5% of the children currently at Udayan suffer from the disease themselves - all of them suffer the stigma of the disease.
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UDAYAN provides children with the opportunity to grow up as children were meant to – free of the scourge of leprosy and its associated poverty, with the chance to learn, play and live life to the fullest. The healthy and peaceful setting of UDAYAN is very different from the environment these children were born in. They leave UDAYAN’s doors with the education and self-confidence necessary to be productive members of society.
