Stories

An invitation to support a family like Subbamma’s.
She needed help, and EAV showed up. We get to meet some incredible people through our ministry in India. Our friend Subbamma has been an honor to know and serve. Subbamma, 56 years old, is a beautifully joyful woman living with her daughter in Thiruvalur district of...

A little help goes a long way.
A little help goes a long way. We are often humbled by the people we get to serve and care for through the Embrace a Village mission. They have seen the world at its worst and know pain intimately. It is a privilege to come alongside them and be an example of light...

Bringing hope to the hill stations!
Incredible event at a hill station where many are experiencing healing and hope for the first time! A hill station is a town located at a higher elevation than the nearby plain or valley – these are often very difficult to get to, and the residents end up isolated...

Leprosy does not discriminate with age.
Leprosy does not discriminate with age. We have had the honor to serve Thankavel and his wife, Anjalai in their leprosy colony in Salem district of Tamilnadu. Thankavel was first affected by leprosy at the young age of 14. He was forced to discontinue his studies and...

A small act can bring great impact
Turning a life of survival into a life with purpose! Prior to his leprosy diagnosis at the age of 45, Subramani and his wife were farmers. They were able to provide for themselves and their daughter. Unfortunately, leprosy eventually kept him from being able to work,...

No one should be left alone in life’s greatest hardships.
No one should be left alone in life’s greatest hardships. Unfortunately, for too long, Subalakshmi was left to deal with her leprosy diagnosis completely on her own. At the age of 25, when Subalakshmi’s life should have been taking off, she first discovered her...

Educating youth because there is power in cycle breaking!
Education plays a key role in reversing generational poverty and isolation. Embrace a Village hosts an after-school tutoring program for the children and grandchildren of those suffering from leprosy. Too often the education of these children is greatly neglected due...

She said she would have died, if not for EAV
She said she would have died a long time ago if not for Embrace a Village. This is Gowri’s story. When Gowri was 25, she contracted leprosy. She and her husband barely survived on his labor wages, but they made ends meet. Despite ten years of leprosy treatment, she...

Beating the odds
Nandini dreams of being a police officer. But “the cards are stacked against her.” She’s from a poor leprosy village. Her dad sells chicken eggs as his primary income. She and her two brothers know hunger because her parents struggle to put food on the table. Yet...

September Good News Update
Empowering the Next Generation As we start our fall routines, and kids head back to school (or onto college!) It's an exciting season for many of us. But can you imagine if you never had the opportunity to go to school? How would your life look different? Lack of...

One Story of Hundreds Impacted by Leprosy
Papathi was cared for by a friend in her colony who also suffered from leprosy. Together, they barely survived. When he passed away, Papathi was left all alone. The agony of dealing with leprosy and loneliness was all-encompassing for her. One day, when our team was...

From Begging on the Street to Renewed Purpose!
From begging on the street to renewed purpose! It is too often that we meet people forced into a life they never imagined or wanted because of leprosy and the terrible stigma that comes along with it. Our dear friend Abdul Rehim experienced the life-altering effects...