As a team of 11 volunteers accompanied by Miss. Sashi and J-team volunteers we set out on a mission to Karigiri with the blessings of our principal to help people affected by leprosy. Shanthigramam, also called the ‘village of peace’ has changed the lives of many people who’ve been disowned by their families due to leprosy and has given them a new outlook on life. This visit also gave us a lot of awareness about the disease and the fact that it is curable and not a death sentence and that it doesn't just affect people physically but also mentally. The stories they shared with us about their lives both broke and instilled a fierce flame in our hearts. Meeting the wonderful people who lived there gave us a glimpse into their struggles and pain, but most of all despite their troublesome past they were happy and content. Along with our donations towards Shantigramam, we also designed a new and updated brochure for them painted a few of their walls, and gave the place a bit of additional color and joy. We also visited the leprosy hospital located over there and sang songs and prayed with the patients. The gratitude they had towards us was remarkable. It made us realize how truly blessed we are. Despite them being shunned by their family and being rejected by everyone they loved they were able to rise about their hardships and embark on a new journey. This visit helped us to grow as people and helped us come out of the little bubble that we were sheltered in, this has encouraged us to face new challenges and to keep up Sampoorna's motto which is "reach out to reach within".
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