LUV+, supported the last leprosy mission in Malawi. It has been a beneficiary of the Malawi Millennium Project (MMP) for over ten years. In that time, the living conditions of the leprosy community of Utale have improved enormously.
They initially received a maize mill, which transformed the standing of the lepers in the surrounding villages. It gave them an income they hitherto did not have and ensured villagers were forced to communicate with them.
The attacks on the mission stopped as villagers realised that they too were beneficiaries of LUV+. Before that, if the rains failed the lepers were blamed, and they would be persecuted.
LUV+ then began supporting the education of the children in the surrounding villages, by paying for their schooling.
Many other projects followed:
- a generator to bring electricity
- small-scale farming activities
- a water pump to allow irrigation of crops
- seed starter packs
- small-scale building projects
The farming projects included:
- chicken rearing, which meant that the leprosy community would now benefit from the injection of protein into their diet
- eggs on a Thursday
- meat on a Sunday
It also allowed them to sell eggs and chickens at market, along with crops and vegetables grown. A bullock was bought to work the fields and transport goods to and from market. Later, pigs and goats were reared. The pigs were sold at market, and the goats provided milk.
LUV+ was instrumental in changing the villagers’ attitudes towards the leprosy community. Much of the money to implement these changes was provided by the MMP.