Meet the faces of TLM’s Research Magazine
At the Mangenge Army Barracks just outside Kinshasa, a small but resilient group is working to build a better future through cooperation, agriculture, and self-help. The the Organisation of Persons Affected by Leprosy in Congo OPALCO continues to make strides despite significant challenges.
We’re very thankful to OPALCO. We got soap and food during the pandemic.
The initiative began with a visit by the Damien Foundation, in coordination with the nursing organisation RIAPED. This connection paved the way for vital support from TLM Switzerland and Great Britain, who helped the group rent farmland in September 2021. Initially planted with cassava and peanuts, the land is now tended twice a week by OPALCO members.
However, the journey has not been easy. The group still relies on rented farming tools and lacks adequate funding to buy seeds and essential equipment like machetes and hoes.
People steal from the field too—all our peanuts have been taken. We think it’s both people inside and outside the army camp. We’re fighting poverty.
Despite security concerns and other setbacks, the group remains committed. Members have received training in leprosy education and self-care and meet monthly to assess their progress. Occasionally, they sell cassava leaves, hoping to grow their modest savings and eventually offer microloans to members.
The Mangenge OPALCO group is a testament to determination and community spirit, striving to create sustainable change.
Photo credit: Tom Bradley
INTERVIEW
Pastor Elisha is an empowered community leader and international guest speaker who has overcome stigma and helped heal long-standing wounds, including discrimination against children in schools.
Pastor Elisha was around 61 years old in 2016. He is a CREATE champion and the leader of the Karuna Samajan leprosy colony. Married to a person affected by leprosy, he lives there with his children and grandchildren, all of whom reside in the colony.When asked how he felt about being a CREATE champion and he said that in his lifetime, he never dreamt or imagined that he could have achieved such a status.
In terms of his hopes and dreams for his grandchildren and their generation, Pastor Elisha said that when his own children were young, they were not allowed to attend school because people thought that they would be affected by leprosy. Instead, they could only attend vocational training centers (VTCs) set up for children from leprosy-affected families. Now, as a champion, he is working to ensure that the schooling rights of his grandchildren and other children from leprosy-affected backgrounds are upheld so they can attend government schools.
Photo credit: Sabrina Dangol
A local government officer had visited the community hall and, upon seeing him, said, “You are a leprosy patient—go away.”
Struggle to secure rights
When asked whether it is still a struggle to secure such rights, Pastor Elisha acknowledged that incidents like this still occur. However, he explained that increased awareness of their rights has empowered villagers to challenge the government and, drawing on their experience and past successes, to advocate effectively for their cause.
When asked if anything had recently shocked him in relation to being affected by leprosy, Pastor Elisha recounted a troubling incident. A local government officer had visited the community hall and, upon seeing him, said, “You are a leprosy patient—go away.” Pastor Elisha explained that while an ordinary person might have reacted with anger, he felt that Jesus gave him the patience to remain calm. Instead of confronting the officer, he sought advice from Victor at Brighter Futures. Together, they prepared a formal written complaint and submitted it to the State Collector’s office. This action prompted the initiation of a memorandum against the officer—a serious formal complaint. In response, the officer called both Victor and Pastor Elisha to apologise and requested that they withdraw the complaint, which they agreed to do.
Pastor Elisha talking to the residents of Girigoverdhan colony.
Personal Achivements
In reflecting on a recent personal achievement, Pastor Elisha shared that, because he had once begged for a living around 30 years ago, he is still referred to by other pastors in the district as the “Begging Pastor,” even though he has not begged for decades. He described the nickname as hurtful and demeaning.
After much prayer, he felt led to respond with grace and invited the pastors who used the term to visit his community. Out of 64 invited, 54 attended. They shared food, mingled with residents, and witnessed first-hand the progress that had been made.
Observing the transformation—and learning about Pastor Elisha’s role as a champion with The Leprosy Mission, and his participation at leprosy conferences in Nepal and Japan as a guest speaker —marked a significant shift in their perception.
Long Term Vision
On the topic of his long-term vision, Pastor Elisha expressed his hope and prayer for a future in which families affected by leprosy are fully integrated into broader society. He believes this change should begin with eliminating the word “leprosy” from the names of communities. As he pointed out, younger generations—third-generation descendants of those affected—are not directly affected by leprosy and should not be defined by these labels.
