Oh My Awesomeness: Albinism

A friend from Engage Now Africa, Francis, took us to a small village to visit a group of people with albinism. This organization works fiercely on this human rights issue. In Africa, people with albinism are seen as curses to a village and are literal outcasts. In other areas they are seen to have special powers, and they are hunted and killed, or at a minimum, a body part is cut off, their blood added to a potion that promises wealth and eternal life.

It was another long 2-hour ride to a village, only this time four of us were crammed in a back seat, sweating despite the frigid air conditioning. Francis' assistant has albinism, and he was in the front seat telling us of the challenges of this genetic condition. One's eyes shift back and forth, making it difficult to read. Therefore, the children fall behind in school, often dropping out due to lack of progress and bullying. Their skin has no barrier to the sun's damage, so skin cancer is common at a young age, and sun damage leaves its spots.

Engage Now Africa educated a region outside of Accra about albinism being genetic, about the needs of those with this genetic outcome, and how they are regular people, not cursed and having no special powers. Many people understood and accepted the truth, a few hold on to cultural beliefs. After sufficient education, many people with albinism moved to the region and found work. It is a relatively safe area for them to live without fear.

The village we visited was a gathering place in this region. A New York Times reporter recently visited the same place and wrote and article about it. We met many of the "movie stars" (locals) as well as those in the article. Wonderful people.

First a glimpse of the village.

Like our last visit to a village, chairs were gathered in a circle so we could meet together. The village living room.

Engage Now Africa made a video that they use in their conferences for educational purposes. We watched the documentary-type film on a laptop, with everyone gathered around to see it for the first time. They laughed and pointed at seeing themselves, and the albinos cried at the familiarity of the story being told. Theirs is a hard life. As if life in Africa isn't hard enough.

This little 4-year-old girl, Franca, was so painfully shy. She has not yet been to school. Her mother was chased out of the village to survive in the bush when she was born. She didn't voluntarily sit on Ceci's lap, she was placed there. Eventually she warmed up, slightly.

Our friend Francis is the man farthest to the left. Such a kind man. He was a street kid who has broken through layers of hard to become the successful man he has become.