|| Leprosy || Stigma || Discrimination || Mental Health||

Описание: “Challenging stigma through innovative methods of storytelling”

To combat the leprosy-related stigma and discrimination, GLRA India in collaboration with DAHW Germany designed a participatory stigma reduction pilot project through innovative and educative storytelling videos by persons affected by leprosy in India. Participatory video is a technique where a community or group shapes and creates their own films based on their own ideas about what matters and how they want to be represented. It has the potential to educate, influence, and advocate for positive change because of its visual character and ability to capture the voices of people from marginalized groups. It is an effective intervention in improving the mental well-being of disease-affected persons and addressing the issues of stigma, both for those who experience it and those who express it. 20 persons affected by leprosy from different villages took part in storytelling videos, where they shared their own experiences and stories of combating leprosy and also gave messages to the community and peers on stigma, discrimination, and awareness about the disease. The participants mentioned that they felt involved, their voices were heard, and wanted these voices to be reached out to bigger communities to help eliminate leprosy. Here is a short trailer about the our ongoing innovative project: