The main actors and target group in this project are youth affected by leprosy in Gowa, South Sulawesi. People affected by leprosy face severe social barriers at school, work and in daily life, due to the prevailing stigma in their communities. As a consequence, they develop strong self-stigma.

This project enhances the empowerment of youth affected by leprosy, as the first step in their transformation as the next generation of leaders in disability organisations. The project gives young people the opportunity to demonstrate what they are able to do. They are involved in designing, organising and implementing small community projects for the benefit of other vulnerable people. Ostracised people lacking self-worth can change their perspectives on life when given the opportunity to achieve something useful for others.

Indirect target group:
The small community projects are based on the actual needs of and the feasibility in the project area. As a result, women who are illiterate and people with disabilities also benefit. They face profound multiple disadvantages in life and are vulnerable to exploitation. The youth affected by leprosy maps the whereabouts of illiterate women and people with disabilities, explores their needs in participatory exercises, and develop solutions to address some of these needs. The youth affected by leprosy implements these projects, involving multi-sector stakeholders like village governments and other youth groups in the area.

Outcome:
Youth affected by leprosy experience and realise their own capacity as agents of change. They (re-)gain respect within their community. With this step towards empowerment, PerMaTa continues to work with the youth to further encourage and facilitate their development into young leaders. As an additional outcome, the community can experience how change can happen when different people work together with one voice towards a common goal.

14 young people who have experienced leprosy are willing to join the Sipakatau team, although at first they were very afraid, doubtful, embarrassed, and silent. The young people in the Sipakatau team learned quickly, accompanied by PerMaTa Sulsel and PerMata Gowa. PerMata members who are still young themselves managed to provide motivation and enthusiasm. 

PerMaTa and the Sipakatau team managed to get support from various government agencies and NGOs who initially doubted the ability of the youth team and in the end praised their success and spirit. 

50 illiterate women and several illiterate disabled people were successfully invited to join a joint workshop to identify barriers and problems related to their illiteracy. 

For 10 months, 3 illiterate groups were run by the Sipakatau team. In the end, 25 women and people with disabilities were able to write and read. They are happy and grateful for not being afraid and ashamed anymore. 

There is also some changes. At the beginning of the project, young people had doubts and fears that they would not be accepted by illiterate women, because they had or were suffering from leprosy. The main objective of this project is to increase the confidence of young people who are or have experienced leprosy through helping others. This was accomplished. Impressive stories are told by young people, and this project brings people who are or have had leprosy back into society. As a result of increased self-confidence, young people who previously did not want to be involved in community activities and prefer to hide themselves are now more actively involved in many community activities, both through PerMaTa organizational activities and other activities carried out in their environment. 

Involved in this achievement is mainly a team of young people who are brave and full of commitment to carry out their duties. The second is the management team from PerMaTa Sulsel which supports young people with passion and full of heart and uses their own experiences as people who have had leprosy and have gone through periods of self-stigma. Third, there is technical support from project consultants for the management team and the active activities of young people in the field. The fourth involvement of religious organizations Muhammadiyah and TB Aisyah in Kab. Gowa gives its own spirit for young people to want to do more field activities.