DSDI has just published its 2015 Annual Report which summarizes the many activities carried out during the year. DSDI is the nonprofit organization of the SSCC brothers in India. Its headquarters is located in Phulnakhara, Bhubaneswar, in the state of Orissa. Inspired by the work and mission of St. Damien, it was founded in 1985 by Bill Petrie sscc, under the name of "Damien Institute." The main activity was the care and social promotion of leprosy patients. In 2002, under the leadership of the Indian brothers, it was renewed taking the current name and opening to other fields of social action. Currently its director is Stephen Banjare sscc.
In this year 2015, DSDI has developed programs in the following areas:
- Health, both in the clinic-based dispensary in Phulnakhara and at clinics in several colonies of lepers (Choudwar, Jagannath, Gokhibaba); also they have organized 4 mobile health camps in various colonies of leprosy patients, along with awareness programs and health education.
- Education: with three basic programs: a) a residence (“hostel”) for young people (Coudrin Chhatrabas), with 22 students; b) 20 non-formal education centers in city slums and small villages in the interior (3 in the state of West Bengal), serving 564 children; c) scholarship program for 117 "college" students (University), from families of leprosy patients or low economic level.
- Human development for families affected by leprosy, through a center of production of textiles (Aymer Weaving Rehabilitation Centre), 2 centers for dressmaking courses, scholarships for vocational training; renovation of toilets in several colonies of lepers.
- Various meetings with young people, children and staff of DSDI.
These activities are made possible by the donations and by the support of the SSCC US Province.
For a more complete reading click here to read the Annual Report
DSDI in Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/damien.dsdi
02/09/2016