Rebuilding a Village of Peace

An Irish charity is bringing life to leprosy sufferers in India

(From the October - December 2020 issue of VOX)

Sami contracted leprosy when he was just 16 years old. Faced with the stigma, his family tried to hide his illness and by the time he finally received any medication, it was too late. While she was alive, his mother did her best to care for her son but when she died, his family put Sami out of the house. “If I committed a crime, they would put me in prison but I would still have a family to visit me. With leprosy nobody wants you. You are thrown aside and abandoned,” Sami said. Eventually he found a home in Shanti Gramam (meaning Village of Peace), a care centre for leprosy patients connected with Karigiri Hospital in Tamil Nadu, south India where he has been a resident for 30 years. Now in his 60s, Sami has an adopted family in Ireland, thanks to People’s Church in Dublin. Pastor Sian Fitzgerald told VOX about the work of the David Ware Trust and the ambitious project they have embraced even in the midst of lockdown.

When the Apostolic Church in the centre of Dublin had a vision to reach out and help the poor and oppressed overseas in 2004, they began in India by forming partnerships with local ministries providing education, food, water, medicine and housing to people who were destitute. This ministry grew into the David Ware Trust, a small Irish charity (CRN 7580) with a vision to work for long term transformation in the lives of those they serve. One of their main partnerships is with the Shanti Gramam residential centre for leprosy sufferers.

“We are closely connected with the Karigiri Leprosy Hospital in Tamil Nadu,” said Sian, “Sometimes they would treat patients and when it was time for them to be discharged, they had nowhere to go. There is so much stigma and fear surrounding leprosy, even today. The hospital set up Shanti Gramam for former patients but they were struggling to keep up with the running costs. When we first got involved, there were around 16 residents. The David Ware Trust took on the responsibility for the running costs and for providing anything they needed - from goats to mattresses!”

Groups from Ireland visit Shanti Gramam each year (at their own expense) and have built up deep friendships with the residents.

“Contracting leprosy is like a type of death because they lose everything. We want to give them a sense of self worth, security and love - the life abundant that the Lord Jesus promises.”

“To us they are VIPs. They are incredibly special people,” Sian explained. “When one of them dies, the chaplain there calls it their ‘second death.’ Contracting leprosy is like a type of death because they lose everything. We want to give them a sense of self worth, security and love - the life abundant that the Lord Jesus promises. We seek to minister with respect and cultural consideration rather than imposing our western values.”

Frequent visits have forged deep and loving relationships with all the residents. Sian and her family have a special bond with Sami, writing letters and speaking over Face Time even during lockdown. “We have adopted him into our family and he says I am like a mother to him, even though I am younger than he is,” Sian smiles. “He has been complaining about Covid-19 and keeps asking when we will visit.”

The church had to cancel plans to visit Shanti Gramam during 2020 but have still been working on a new project to renovate and improve the accommodation.

“We’ve been concerned about the condition of the buildings. Some of the residents have been falling over because the ground is uneven, there was asbestos in the roofs and the bathrooms were in a poor state. One elderly man even found a cobra in one of the bathrooms and had to beat it to death. I hate the thought of them being in any sort of danger or need. We began raising funds and started work earlier this year on the refurbishment of some of the buildings. We want to keep everything to the highest standard possible while remaining sensitive to what they are used to,” Sian said.

The first stage of renovation has just been completed but it has become clear that brand new houses are needed for the remaining residents to ensure everyone is kept safe. During lockdown, one church member raised €5,000 through a sponsored weight loss (losing two stone in 100 days).

The new buildings will cost around €104,000 and will include communal areas where the residents can sit and talk with one another. “This is the biggest project we have ever taken on,” Sian admits. “One of the things that breaks my heart is that so many of them suffer from chronic depression and many of them have attempted suicide at times in their lives. We’d like them to have a seating area where they can enjoy spending time together.”

To date, the church has raised €24,000 (a quarter of their target) and some members are planning to run the VHI mini marathon to raise more. The David Ware Trust ensures that 100% of funds raised are given to the projects overseas (the church covers the full cost of administration).

While the fundraising target seems daunting, Sian and the team at People’s Church are determined to see it through. “We take on one project at a time and work at it until it is complete, no matter how long it takes.” And while the pandemic has caused so many challenges, Sian is confident that they will soon be celebrating with the VIPs of Shanti Gramam.

“They say to us, ‘Don’t cry. God has blessed us!’”

“When we visit, there are always tears but they say to us, ‘Don’t cry. God has blessed us!’ They still have each other and they have us here. They are not forgotten. They are loved and treasured.”

To find out more or help support the re-development of Shanti Gramam for Sami and his fellow residents, visit www.thedavidwaretrust.com.