The National Associations of the Chilean League against Epilepsy (ANLICHE, acronym in Spanish) was founded in 1997 and constitutes 17 Chilean groups and institutions, located in different part of Chile, who join forces to improve the quality of life of people with epilepsy and their families.

The aims of ANLICHE are, amongst others:

• to spread knowledge about epilepsy throughout the country;
• to exchange information with other institutions;
• to support research and study about the origins and treatment of epilepsy;
• to promote the creation of specialized centers;
• to give comprehensive assistance to people with epilepsy;
• to create, maintain and develop statistical information about the syndrome.

The challenging issue

Epilepsy affects the person with epilepsy not only physically but also in emotional and social aspects. People with epilepsy often feel rejected and find difficulty in integrating socially for a number of reasons:

• the severity of the syndrome;
• its unpredictability;
• the associated co-morbidities and the social stigma.

All these factors have a negative effect in the patients’ and their carers’ quality of life.

For this reason ANLICHE has decided to create a workshop to train 15 people with epilepsy in hairdressing techniques for ladies, gents and children. The workshop participants will also undertake a course on running a small business, so that they can set up their own micro enterprises once they are trained.

The workshop is aimed primarily at housewives whose epilepsy is now well controlled. These women would have had little chance to study or work when they were still having seizures and will have neither social benefits nor healthcare assistance within the normal parameters of a national health system. It is expected that up to 80% of participants will find work within a period of 8 months.

The project will receive US$4,000 from the Promising Strategies Program.