Marianne Grosspietsch is always travelling between Germany and Nepal. About every six weeks, she flies to the Shanti-Leprahilfe facility, to the so-called Gate of Hope, in Kathmandu. "Mama's coming!" they use to announce. She smiles: "I have to look for order sometimes; otherwise Easter hares may appear on the Christmas paper. Or the wings of the angels may be placed on their heads, like helicopter propellers"
What requirements should a human being have to found such a facility, with no institution backing them, quasi from nothing" "She has a computer-like memory and can link everything she ever learned or read, including things from her school graduation", Christa Schaaf, the minister, names the special skills of 62-year old Marianne Grosspietsch. But, what is at least equally important: a rather unexpiring love of human beings: "What you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me", the dedicated Christian says about her motivation. Marianne Grosspietsch is a member of the St Reinoldi community of Dortmund. Her terminology hardly ever mentions the term "human dignity", but it is ever present.
It is that simple, but very difficult nonetheless. Every month, the facility of the "Shanti Leprahilfe" needs 25,000 euros. This may not be much if you imagine how many people live there and have work and enough to eat. But it is a high amount of money which requires to be made available every month. Permanent money transfer orders provide 10,000 euros, and the rest must be advertised for to obtain donations, every single month.
Last year, Marianne Grosspietsch was nominated as one of 1000 women for the Nobel Peace Prize. She was awarded the German Federal Cross of Merit on a Ribbon this year. Mrs Grosspietsch sees this as a proper chance to introduce the Shanti project to an even larger general public. "I hope that people respond and support this work which is intended to the poorest of poor".

You will find the "Ganesh" shop in Dortmund City Centre, Hohe Strasse 19, where you can buy all those textiles and jewellery manufactured in the Shanti Leprahilfe workshops. The shop is open from Monday to Friday from 10am. to 6pm. and Saturday from 10am. to 1pm; you can leave with them all books you no longer need.
Whoever wishes to support Shanti's work with donations can transfer money - whether regularly or once only - to the bank account 923 923 held by the KD-Bank Dortmund, bank sort code BLZ 350 601 90; you will be issued a donor's certificate.
Please find further information on the Shanti Leprahilfe at telephone number +49 (0) 231 / 73 6914, by email: info@shanti-leprahilfe.de or by visiting the website: www.shanti-leprahilfe.de.