What is the administrative cost of Rising Star Outreach?

All administrative costs are paid for through an operations fund which is funded exclusively by donations made by members of the Rising Star Outreach Board of Directors.

How does Rising Star Outreach fight the stigma of Leprosy?

Recognizing the destructive effects of Leprosy on the entire family of those affected, Rising Star takes an unusual three-pronged approach to solving the problem in which they redirect the future of the children, promote self sufficiency through micro-lending in colonies, and address the health issues through mobile medical units.  Using these three methods, Rising Star expects to see the Indian Leprosy colonies converted into thriving, self-sufficient communities by the year 2020. 

Why is Leprosy still considered a "curse"?

The ancient perception of Leprosy, found in almost every religion, saw the disease as a God-given curse. To this day, Leprosy in India carries with it a stigma that adds terrible emotional trauma and extreme social ostracism to physical effects of the disease.

How many loans are given, on average, per year? What is the average loan?  

Rising Star Outreach typically has about 1,000 loans out to leprosy-affected patients. These loans are constantly being repaid and re-lent. We also have around 3,000 loans out to victims of the 2004 tsunami. The average loan is between $20-$100.

What are Rising Star's plans for the future?

In February of 2007, Rising Star Outreach began construction on a permanent school and children's village for the children of the Leprosy colonies. Phase One is expected to be finished in June of 2007 at which point the school will open its doors to the children. Final completion of the campus is expected in 2010.

We anticipate that redirecting of the futures of the children, combined with our consistent efforts in micro-lending and medical treatment, will allow us to achieve our mission of turning the colonies into self-sufficient villages by the year 2020.

As we continue to grow, Rising Store plans to duplicate our program in other Indian states and in other developing countries where Leprosy continues to destroy families and lives.

Are there special protocols when writing about Leprosy?

There are two words that leprosy-affected people find very objectionable.  One is the word leper, the other is the word, native.   These words have traditionally had a stigma attached to them. One of the goals of Rising Star Outreach is to bring dignity to those who have been affected by leprosy. Rising Star therefore carefully avoids using these offensive words and requests that others do the same. When referring to those suffering from the disease, the accepted term is "leprosy-affected."

Why is it important that the children grow up outside of the colonies?

Leprosy has a genetic aspect, in that only people with a positive component are susceptible to the disease. It follows that the children of the leprosy-affected are at greater risk for developing leprosy. Many of the families in the colonies of India have passed leprosy onward through generations, thus making it literally a family disease.   Living conditions in the colonies further put the children at risk. The colonies are usually filthy. The nutrition available to the children in the colonies is substandard. The parents of the children have traditionally been beggars. Their own training in hygiene is minimal and their immune systems are severely weakened as a result.

By removing the children from the colonies and providing them with good nutrition and training in proper hygiene, Rising Star Outreach greatly reduces the risk of the children developing the disease. If the children remain in the colonies they also become affected by the stigma attached to the disease. Many drop out of school rather than dealing with the prejudice from peers and teachers, and are then further susceptible to the family occupation of begging.

In Rising Star Outreach schools the children are taught important skills for success. They are trained in computer skills and taught English—both critical components of financial success in India. In order to break out of their social situation the children must be even better educated than other regular children in order to compete for available jobs. By providing the children the opportunity and training to become productive citizens of India the chain of generational leprosy can be broken.

How many children is Rising Star currently supporting?

Rising Star Outreach currently has 140 children in our children's homes and schools. We are supporting about 150 other children remaining in the colonies with educational support. We are currently building additional children's homes for 460 children, as well as schools that will have the capacity of training 720 children. The campus is being built in phases. In June, 2007 we completed our first two new children's homes, allowing us to bring in 100 new children.

Is the government involved in the fight against Leprosy?

The Indian Government has made great strides in the fight against Leprosy. Padma was instrumental in getting a National Leprosy Day declared by the government.  She spoke at several forums across India on that day to help initiate the dissemination of education that has begun to ease some of the public's fears. She is also worked on a television series called, "No Fear, No Fear" that will help to educate the general public further. We all recognize that until leprosy loses its stigma, the progress being made by the leprosy-affected will be necessarily limited.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rising Star Outreach of India is the former government secretary who initiated the government's efforts to help the leprosy-affected by establishing ten government leprosy "homes" in Tamil Nadu. He continues his efforts to help coordinate the efforts of both government and private charities to help move the cause of the leprosy-affected forward.

The government has recognized the Rising Star Outreach schools as model schools. It has encouraged Rising Star to expand their work further with the children of the leprosy-affected. The Rising Star Clinic doctor, Dr. Krishnakanth, was recently honored by the governor of Tamil Nadu for his work to help relieve suffering amongst those afflicted by leprosy.