Meet Lali. Leprosy labeled her "untouchable." Yet now, Lali's touch is essential to weave the cotton JOYN products use. Now, her touch has dignity.

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1 Meet Lali Meet Lali Leprosy labeled her "untouchable." Yet now, Lali's touch is essential to weave the cotton JOYN products use. Now, her touch has dignity.

2 <img src=" alt="lali-joyn.jpg" /> The creases that cut deep across her forehead and around her eyes prove Lali as one of the eldest members of Kripaon Ki Mata Handweaving Society (KKM). Her forehead tells the story of her perseverance to endure the uphill climb that is a diagnosis of leprosy in this mountain of a life. Yet the lines around her eyes, connecting and growing deeper with the years, shout her joy even in the midst of traumatic times. <img src=" alt="" />

3 Her laughter and playful teasing can be heard throughout the one and a half acre piece of land that KKM sits on, as she welcomes all who come to her door with an offer of chai, apples, and conversation. Lali loves and is dearly loved by this community of 70 individuals affected by leprosy who live life with each other, working alongside each other every day to produce handwoven cotton. KKM was started in 1962 by Agnes Kunze, who desired to give those suffering from leprosy an opportunity for purpose through providing them with work. In conjunction with Gandhi's movement to revitalize cotton weaving in India's economy, Kunze brought in looms and spinning wheels and began to train members of the colony in the skills needed to make cotton products. In 1965, their first product, the handspun cotton rug, was available for sale. Today, KKM provides handmade cotton products to numerous organizations and businesses around the world, one of which is JOYN, a business located in Dehradun that produces textile products crafted by artisans who otherwise would have no opportunity to work. The cotton used to make JOYN scarves, pillow cases, handbags and jewelry is hand-spun and hand-woven by the people at KKM, giving them dignity and meaningful work. <img src=" alt=""

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5 <img src=" alt="" /> In tears, Lali tells us how she arrived at KKM in the 1970's, following years of hardship. At a young age, she lost her father, brother and sister. She was the oldest of her four siblings, and was left with her younger brother. When she was 20 years old, Lali was diagnosed with leprosy and shunned from her home village. Shame and abandonment followed her, and she was forced to leave her brother and all she owned. She was left with nothing, no one to help her, much less a man who wanted to marry her. A few years after her diagnosis, the leprosy began to cripple the nerves in her feet. Hearing about a hospital in Almora, India with doctors willing to treat leprosy, Lali traveled there to have surgery. The doctor declared her able to work following her surgery, yet the cultural stigma surrounding her disease remained. She was not welcomed back in her home village, and began traveling from town to town searching for a place to belong. In the midst of this incredibly difficult time, she married a man, and they had two children together. Shortly after, she met the Bishop of Meerut, who played an important role in starting KKM with Kunze. He told her about the colony, and after writing a letter to gain acceptance, Lali and her family moved to Dehradun. After arriving at KKM, Lali and her husband were trained in the skills of cotton weaving and began to work. While the uphill climb seemed to ease slightly, the cultural stigma of leprosy was still something Lali had to live with. Following the sudden death of her husband, Lali was forced to send her two young children away to an orphanage in another region that cares for children of people affected by leprosy so they could receive a proper education, which was unavailable to them in India.

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11 Lali is part of one of the most marginalized people groups in the world, yet she has found joy in her work and a place to belong with the community at KKM. Her hope is that it's all downhill from here. "I'm very happy, and feel very loved here," Lali says, explaining that her community here taught her how to pray, how to hope again. "I have a house, food and work. Before I didn't have anything." "I'm very happy, and feel very loved here," JOYN's decision to use handspun cotton to make every product has a tangible impact on the lives of those living in KKM. Before each piece of thread reaches the loom to be weaved, it touches seven hands to make sure that it's spun as thin as possible. Once ready for weaving, it takes two people two full days to set the loom, which is all done by hand. The weaver is the final step, producing soft, fine sheets of cotton that turn into JOYN scarves, tote bags and jewelry. By the time the cotton reaches JOYN to be printed, it has already touched at least ten hands. By putting work back in the hands of capable people at every step of the process, JOYN is providing some of the most overlooked and forgotten people in society with dignity and purpose. <img src="

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14 What JOYN's partnership means to Lali is evident in her relationship with Melody Murray, JOYN's founder. Melody is like her daughter- welcomed with a smile, and scolded when she takes too long in between visits. They joke and laugh, but most of all they encourage each other. Every day, Lali spends time praying for JOYN to continue growing, so she and her community can have work that they are proud of. The perseverance of a woman who has walked in the shoes of leprosy isn't easily shaken. In the midst of heartache and struggle, Lali fought to find hope. Now that she's grabbed hold of hope through her community at KKM and their work for JOYN, she's doing everything she can to keep it alive. So far, her prayers seem to be working. <img src=" alt=""

15 /> JOYN is growing fast and has the perfect piece of land to expand but they need your help to construct a building. Donate now to help them grow and continue to restore many more lives like Lali's.

16 Credits Photos: Sionnie LaFollette Written by: Lindsay Bixby Produced & Directed by: Light the World Headline Address Subscribe Cart - 0items 0.00 C O N T A C T U S D E S I G N E D B Y A L I C E L E E

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