How NGO addresses albinos needs
What you need to know:
Under The Same Sun says it spends about Sh12 billion annually to take care of people with albinism annually
Dar es Salaam. A charitable organisation that promotes the wellbeing of persons with albinism via education and advocacy, Under The Same Sun, has said that it spends about $14,000 (over Sh30 million) annually for each of the 400 children it currently takes care of in the country.
Co-founder and CEO of Under The Same Sun, Peter Ash, said this at the weekend on the sidelines of a meeting to celebrate 10 years of its existence.
According to him, the amount which is equivalent to about $5.2 million (about Sh12 billion )
annually) comes from donations around the world including the US, Tanzania and other countries
However, he noted that findings for education and advocacy are derived from his family in Canada.
“I decided to come and save people living with albinism in this country after it became known that they were facing brutal killings and discrimination, but our work, is not yet done because two weeks ago there were killing attempts of twochildren,” he said.
He said despite great effort that has been made in 10 years to advocate rights of people living with albinismanother attempt against them was carried out last month.
“It has been confirmed by local authorities that the first attempt was on asix-year old boy, a resident of Kwembe, Mwanza and the other on a 19-year-old boy in Ngorongoro, Arusha,” he said.
He stressed that people living with albinism have equal rights like any other persons and should be accorded the same privileges that entail the right to live, protection among others.
He noted that he decided to establish Under the Same Sun after it came to his attention that the Rights of people living with albinism were being infringed in the Lake Zone.
He said they have been able to set up of facilities for at least 400 children living with albinism in private schools where they enjoymaximum protection.
“We would like to help others, but the cost of maintaining just one is about $14,000 annually because we cater for all their basic needs including school fees, accommodation, food, and currently our budget is very limited” he explained.
He noted that his hope was that one day which could be today tomorrow, 10 years from now, 30 people living with albinism will have equal rights like everyone else globally.
Meanwhile IPP Chapman, Reginald Mengi said that the only thing that would stop discrimination and killings of people living with albinism was the promotion of love among all groups.
He opened three job opportunities to three people living with albinism to work in any capacity in either of his companies at IPP Media.
On his part, Under the Same Sun, training officer Kondo Self said that the children they are trining some have graduated and are looking for jobs.
However he noted that despite having the people with disability act no.9 of 2010 that require employees to have 3 percent of people living with albinism in their employment, but it is not enforced.
