Italian Association Amici di Raoul Follereau (AIFO)

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Press Room: Persons for Interviews in Rome

A Patron Saint for Human Rights
CANONIZATION OF FATHER DAMIEN
Rome, 10-12 October 2009

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Fr Damien

Leprosy

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P.K. GOPAL

PRESIDENT, IDEA INDIA www.idealeprosydignity.org

ADDRESS IN ROME AT: CASA LA SALLE - Via Aurelia 472, Tel 06/666981 Fax 06/66000384, Personal mobile: +91/99/44467395

INTERVIEW LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

“Education is a kind of power. When children of persons affected by leprosy get this power, their futures will be guaranteed for good.”

Dr. Gopal is a social worker with a doctorate in rehabilitation. He is IDEA’s President for International Relations and the President of IDEA India. He has worked many years in the field of leprosy, both as a social worker providing services to those affected by the disease, and most recently coordinating IDEA's efforts in India. Dr. Gopal has coordinated empowerment workshops throughout the country that have served as a model for other IDEA branches and international organizations.

He has also established a scholarship program and a socio-economic program to break the cycle of poverty and social exclusion associated with leprosy. In 2005 Dr. Gopal coordinated a study of leprosy communities in India. Dr. Gopal has traveled extensively on behalf of IDEA worldwide, including the Philippines, South Africa, China, Nigeria, Malaysia, Japan, and Turkey. He participated with Zilda Borges and Kofi Nyarko on their respective presentations before the UN bodies addressing leprosy and human rights.