SHF Young Scholars Programme – Second Round:
The second round of the Young Scholars Programme by the Sasakawa Health Foundation (SHF) officially began on April 1, 2025, expanding its reach to include Bangladesh and India, in addition to Indonesia and Colombia.
The programme’s goal is to establish a sustainable system for identifying and nurturing young leaders affected by leprosy—individuals who can become role models, inspire others, and help strengthen organisations led by people affected by leprosy.
In each participating country, two to four young individuals affected by leprosy are selected as Scholars. They are given the opportunity to:
Pursue vocational training or professional studies for 1 to 1.5 years,
Grow as activists and leaders,
Contribute to community empowerment, and
Lead initiatives to combat stigma.
Each Scholar is supported by a team of dedicated mentors. In Indonesia, the mentoring and coordination are carried out by PerMaTa-YDTI.
As part of their leadership development, the Scholars are also required to design and implement a small-scale community project that directly supports people affected by leprosy and raises awareness to reduce stigma.
This initiative is not just about education—it’s about creating lasting change, amplifying voices, and building a network of empowered young changemakers in the leprosy movement across the globe.
