The Alliance Against Leprosy Institute (AAL), based in Curitiba (Parana, Brazil), but active globally, is a non-profit organisation that combines Philanthropy, Education and Science to combat Hansen’s disease, better known as leprosy. Dr. Laila de Laguiche, a dermatologist and leprologist, launched AAL in 2018.

The mission of AAL is to aid in the certification of health specialists so that they may diagnose and treat leprosy ethically and devotedly to the people afflicted by the illness. AAL’s charitable activity brings together relationships with the government, the third sector, commercial enterprises and the scientific community to help researchers working on one of the world’s most neglected illnesses. This institute also works to provide excellent information to fight pathology and promote early detection to help those impacted by the condition.

The institute’s exceptional impact and results are made possible by a network of experts in various fields who have joined the cause and invested in initiatives that improve the quality of life for individuals living with leprosy or, after being cured, with its aftereffects. Businessman Bernard de Laguiche, Dr. Laila de Laguiche’s husband, is one of the supporters of AAL who has been there since it started.

The businessman is impressed with the outcomes and the yearly report, which demonstrates the efforts and includes both quantitative and qualitative data. Additionally, he is pleased with his wife’s concept and the positive impact the institution has had on so many people’s lives.

History

The Alliance Against Leprosy Institute was founded as a result of the private findings of a Brazilian doctor who encountered the unseen reality that individuals with leprosy experience in Brazil, the nation with the second-highest incidence of leprosy diagnoses in the world.

Laila de Laguiche’s sensitivity to health care was linked with a social vision that allowed her to see how much this and other illnesses grow in great vulnerability and social inequality contexts. Laila de Laguiche was able to treat leprosy patients due to her decades of expertise in humanitarian medicine, dermatology and treating leprosy patients. She also practised humanitarian medicine.

Brazil is now ranked by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as the 7th most unequal country in the world due to this situation. Brazil ranks seventh in the world for income inequality. Brazilians living in poverty have the highest risk of contracting leprosy because they are more likely to be neglected by those around them and excluded from society due to the sequelae accompanying late treatment. Despite the very challenging environment in which she found herself in 2018, Dr. Laila decided to launch the Alliance Against Leprosy Institute.

The optimism that Dr. Laila has been able to disseminate over the Brazilian landscape is a direct result of the infectious zeal with which she has pursued the diagnosis and treatment of leprosy. Dr. Laila is a dual citizen of Brazil and France who had her medical training in Brazil and her postgraduate training in International Public Health and Tropical Medicine in Belgium. Her work combines her professional expertise with the philanthropic spirit of charity. She has spent the previous two decades working in the medical profession after graduating from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp with a speciality in International Health and Tropical Diseases. She gained a wealth of expertise during that time (Belgium). Dr. Laila has worked as a consultant for the Brazilian Ministry of Health, as a South regional representative, and as the responsible party for International Relations at the Brazilian Society of Hansenology (SBH). Currently, she is serving in the position of chairperson for all of AAL’s operations.

The institute launched its project calendar in 2019, directly or indirectly influencing around 6 million individuals. In barely eight months of operation, the AAL institution reached 866 health professionals and educated them on how to respond in some of the regions of Brazil that were most severely affected by the illness. Some of these locations include the states of Maranhao and Mato Grosso. These actions have an influence that is both multiplicative and long-term, which should improve the area’s overall quality of life. In addition, the institute has held lectures and seminars in Curitiba geared for City Councilors of Curitiba and Curitiba dermatologists. These events focused on public policy. Also, it has contributed funding to scientific research that has the potential to enhance leprosy treatment.

Dr. Laila represented Brazil in the International Leprosy Congress, which took place in Manila, Philippines. The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, known as Itamaraty, organised this event. She has met with representatives from the United Nations (UN) and other international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), resulting in considerable worldwide ties. She has designed patient self-care kits with the assistance of partner firms. Patients can now care for themselves.

2020 was a difficult one, and as a result, more people in society are becoming aware of the pressing need to care for leprosy. The AAL launched a big Purple January campaign and is currently developing acts of teleconsultation and online training, both of which have the potential to have a positive impact on the current atmosphere of epidemic and social isolation.

Written by Bernard de Laguiche

The Sivis Institute is a non-profit organization in Brazil that seeks to have a collaborative and democratic Brazil. The organization is non-partisan, which means it doesn’t pick sides because they want Brazil to deepen its democratic values for the benefit of its people. One of the board members Bernard de Laguiche, expresses his pride as a board member. He says, “I feel honoured to be part of an organization that brings change to Brazil.”

Values of Sivis Institute

The institute focuses on the Brazilian people and what value they bring to Brazilian society. The institute considers what the people need, and their work is based on giving each person the respect and consideration they deserve. It doesn’t matter where the person is located or whether they are part of the organization. What matters is the development and the impact of the institution’s work on Brazilian society.

Sivis Institute tries to brew trust between themselves and the people by building a relationship. The relationship is based on trust and respect, showing concern and interest in Brazilian society. Their view is to reach a common understanding by incorporating everyone into their culture of communal responsibility. The aim is to stimulate society to ensure dialogue and a collaborative spirit among citizens.

Sivis Institute approaches its mandate with bravery and determination. The fear of losing brings an openness to change, and society will realize that it is their responsibility to seek change. Without risk, there is no reward; the institute prides itself on maintaining its standards and doing things right by focusing on important goals. The Sivis Institute ensures its team members are competent and complementary to its efforts to maintain the institution’s conscious autonomy. The organization selects a team that stimulates and pushes each other toward growth.

Transparency

Transparency is one of the core values of the organization. Through publishing annual reports, the organization opens its books to the public. They show their revenues and expenses yearly to build trust with the people and improve their relations with Brazilian society.

Partners

The organization knows it cannot succeed without international community support. The institute receives support from Brazil, the USA, Netherlands, Italy, and Germany.

Team

The board members are international professionals whose main goals are to ensure the organization grows in the right direction. The team is highly capable to achieve the desired results because the advisory and fiscal boards are indispensable.

Sivis Institute Impact on Brazil

There is no recipe for change but a blueprint on how you can effect change in society. The organization understands the problem within Brazil, and one of the common issues is the lack of participation among Brazilians. The people have shown a lack of commitment toward community life and the values of democracy.

Sivis Institute works with the systems practice methodology that allows them to look at the problem from a broader perspective. The institute sees the patterns and the relationship between factors that comprise citizenship.

The organization’s impact is due to the following steps:-

Theory of context.

Theory of change.

Portfolio of actions.

The theory of context aims to understand citizenship. The elements comprise citizenship and the existing standards that make up a society.

The theory of change explores how a society explores its relationships to ensure it moves in the right direction. Citizens should know what is required to effect change and the organization has to show them the correct path toward change. The organization takes the citizens through the planning stage to show them what needs to be done to integrate change. After that, they take them through the management phase, where they appoint leaders who can manage the issues within the community. After the management phase, the organization is evaluated to determine whether the steps taken have brought its desired effect.

The portfolio of actions comprises mobilizing people in key areas of the programs and projects. The projects are already in existence, but they need to be designed by these key figures appointed by the organization to achieve a solid impact when practised. Once the path is established, and the plan is repeated, the repetitiveness establishes a learning system. Each time the project is repeated, the organization can learn more about the problem and be precise in its strategies.

Through the portfolio of actions, the organization is tasked with emphasizing the importance of the diversity of points of view. The strategic plan has to be collected so that everyone is involved. When everyone is involved, it produces the desired impact, and the community benefits from this cooperation.

Media Interactions

The Sivis Institute uses the media to enhance its democratic culture. People need to understand what democracy is, and through media, the organization can spread its efforts towards building awareness. Through the papers and publications provided, people can research how to create a stable environment for democracy to thrive.

Written by Bernard de Laguiche

Agriculture is one of the backbones of the Brazilian economy. Currently, this sector contributes about 25% of Brazil’s GDP. Furthermore, the country is the world’s largest producer of orange juice, sugarcane, maize, soybeans, coffee, beef, and poultry. It also ranks as the 4th-largest food producer globally. However, the high agricultural activities have led to severe deforestation in the country, which has resulted in adverse effects, including reduced water cycling, loss of diversity, and contribution to global warming. This article will discuss the impact of agricultural activities and deforestation in Brazil. And how WeForest is helping Farmers and landowners with strategies to slow down deforestation.

Increased Agricultural Activities and Deforestation in Brazil

Increased agricultural activities have seen more deforestation in the Amazonian forests. The Amazon forests in Brazil remained largely intact until 1970. But the deforestation rates accelerated from the early 90s with the clearing of the forests happening at a very rapid pace. Since 1985 to date, Brazil has deforested approximately 263km² area.

Here are some of the effects of deforestation on Brazil’s Amazon forests.

Loss Of Biodiversity

Continued deforestation in Brazil has contributed significantly to the loss of biodiversity. Usually, forests are home and habitat to many rare animal and plant species. When the forests get cleared, the animals that live there lose their habitat and therefore become extinct, and some tree species disappear. It is estimated that over 110,000 species become extinct in the Amazonian Forest yearly.

Less Rainfall

Deforestation also has effects on water cycles that results in less rainfall. Trees absorb water from the soil and release significant quantities of moisture into the atmosphere through evaporation, leading to cloud formation and rainfall. And because deforestation leads to the reduction of trees, that means less moisture is released hence reduced rainfall. Furthermore, reduced moisture in the forest can cause trees to dry up and result in forest fires.

Degradation and erosion of the soil

Cutting down Brazil’s rainforests has resulted in erosion and degradation of the soil in the region. Trees hold the topsoil in place. Also, the decaying matter dropped by the trees adds nutrients to the soil, making its soil fertile.

Deforestation And Global Warming

Forests play a crucial role in the carbon cycle. Trees convert Carbon dioxide in the air during photosynthesis to oxygen, helping regulate Co2. And because man-made inventions, i.e., factories and vehicles, have resulted in the excessive release of CO2 into the air, trees are requisite to help eliminate the excess carbon. Unfortunately, deforestation is hindering this. Cutting down trees has resulted in rising carbon dioxide levels in the air. Which makes the suns radiation reflect on earth, causing global warming.

How WeForest is Working on Solving the Deforestation in Brazil

Deforestation in Brazil is mainly caused by many farmers who opt for low-productivity farming because of lack of long-term credits, low technologies, insecure tenure, and land speculation. Therefore, to solve the deforestation issues, there is a need to tackle these issues.

Weforest is trying to develop strategies to curb land deforestation in this country. This organization is working hand in hand with landowners in Brazil to add value to the low-productivity lands currently used for pastures, hence creating reforestation. They do so by building tree-based production systems that produce higher food for landowners in those areas. In addition, the organization does research and stirs up markets for the products to increase income for the farmers.

Also, Weforest is convincing Brazilian landowners with low-productive lands used for pastures or those with abandoned/underutilized pieces of land to convert them into native forests that will help restore biodiversity in the region and protect soil and water.

Final Words

Although food consumption in Brazil is expected to increase by over 40% over the next thirty years, that does not call for further deforestation of land to increase food production. Furthermore, deforestation is another cause of food insecurity because it reduces rainfall and boosts extreme climatic conditions that hinder agriculture.

There are better strategies that can help improve food productivity even without the need for more space.

Weforest is working with Brazil’s landowners to restore the integrity of forests in the region through lasting solutions. The organization is engaging the land owners with underutilized pieces of land to convert them to native forests to bring back wildlife and prevent drastic climatic changes. Also, Weforest help the communities in those areas make a living from tree-based production systems. The prominent Brazilian-based Businessman Bernard de laguiche praised the work and project of Weforest of reforesting Brazil, saying that it is bringing great

Written by Bernard de Laguiche

As a digital-based business, it is essential to have a clear and concise plan for how you will take care of your clients. You should design a plan to ensure that your clients are getting the best possible service and that their needs are being met promptly and efficiently.

There are a few key things to remember when creating a plan for taking care of your clients as a digital-based business. First, you must clearly understand what your clients need and want from you. This means that you need to understand your target market well and what they are looking for in a digital-based business. Once you know this, start working on a plan to address their needs. There are a number of things you can do to make sure you are looking after your clients as a digital-based business:

1. Understanding Your Clients

For one, you can create targeted marketing and advertising campaigns more likely to reach and resonate with your target audience. Additionally, you can use customer data to create more personalised and relevant content, products, and services more likely to impress your target market. Finally, by understanding your customers’ needs, wants, and pain points, you can create a better overall customer experience that will retain them.

2. Conducting Analytics

There are several ways that analytics help digital-based businesses. First, it can help businesses track website traffic and identify patterns and trends. This information can improve website design, content, and marketing strategies. Additionally, it helps businesses track the performance of their digital marketing campaigns and adjust their strategies accordingly. Finally, analytics can also help businesses predict future customer behaviour and trends. Therefore, you can use that to make decisions about product development and marketing.

3. Address their Inquires and Complains

Another important aspect of properly managing your clients as a digital-based business is ensuring you are responsive to their inquiries and concerns. This means you need to have a system for handling customer service inquiries and complaints. This system should be designed to address your clients’ needs in a timely and efficient manner.

4. Create a User-friendly Website

Make sure you have a clear and easy-to-use website. Your website is often the first point of contact between you and your potential clients, so it’s important to ensure it is clear, professional, and easy to use. Ensure your contact information is easy to find and your services are clearly explained.

5. Maintain Open Communication

Keep your communication channels open. Make sure you have multiple ways for your clients to get in touch with you, such as email, phone, and social media. Respond to the customers’ inquiries promptly and keep them updated on the progress of their projects.

6. Collecting Customer Feedback

Collecting customer feedback helps digital-based businesses by providing them with insight into what their customers think about their products or services. This feedback can help businesses improve their offerings and make more informed decisions about their marketing and sales strategies. Additionally, collecting customer feedback can help businesses build deeper relationships with their customers and create a more positive brand image.

7. Creating an Omni-Channel Customer Experience

An omni-channel customer experience is a seamless customer experience across all channels, including in-person, online, mobile, and social media. Creating an omni-channel customer experience can help digital-based businesses in a few ways. For starters, it increases customer engagement. Customers who have had a good experience with a brand across all channels are more likely to engage with it. This can lead to more sales and customer loyalty. Secondly, it gives them a personalised experience since the omni-channel customer experience can be personalised for everyone. This boosts customer satisfaction and loyalty, which boosts repeat purchases.

8. Offer a Money-back Guarantee

Offering a money-back guarantee will show your clients that you are confident in your services and will give them peace of mind that they can get their money back if they are not happy with the results.

9. Hiring Qualified People

Hiring people with the right skills can help businesses take advantage of new opportunities and technologies. Additionally, having a strong team can help businesses better manage and utilise data, which is increasingly important in the digital age. A good team can also help businesses improve customer service and support, leading to happier customers and increased loyalty.

Summary

Finally, you must ensure you are always working to improve the quality of your services. This means you should constantly look for ways to improve your offerings and services. If you follow the tips in this guide, you’ll easily attract more traffic and retain existing clients to your digital-based business. You can also read what Bernard discusses in his overview of digital marketing and what strategies you can use to succeed in online business.

Written by Bernard de Laguiche