Our vision is a world in which no one suffers any longer from leprosy and other poverty-related diseases or experiences discrimination because of disease or handicap.
Our goal is:
With all our projects, we make a contribution to the accomplishment of these goals.
We create an awareness amongst the Swiss population for the destiny of people in the south who are afflicted by poverty-related diseases.
You can read the complete vision statement as a pdf file here (105KB)
Our work is based on the fundamental principles of the Emmaus movement from which we emerged: “Serve those most in need»
We have campaigned successfully for a leprosy-free world since 1959. Half a century of accumulated experience has taught us to adopt a holistic approach to leprosy relief work. Our endeavours extend way beyond combating the leprosy bacillus.
Education and destigmatisation, medical treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration are as much a part of our work as training and research. Our help has made it possible to heal hundreds of thousands of people and save them from lasting disabilities. Ten of thousands of people with disabilities could be treated and reintegrated into society.
Today, we also employ the expertise acquired in our successful leprosy relief work for all-embracing health work for poor people, irrespective of social, political, ethnic or religious affiliation.