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UNDER THE SAME SUN - Donate Now

By Gadiola Emanuel - 10:25:00 PM

 
Dreams Really Do Come True
Our most recent trip was the most encouraging one to date! Slowly but surely our dream for people with albinism in Tanzania is coming true, and they are begining to take their rightful place in an increasing number of social settings. In some rare environments, the days of discrimination are already becoming a faint memory. While "The Dream" will likely not be fully realized in our lifetime, there are rare but glorious exceptions.
 
A view of our dreams
 

Local Sunscreen Production
This spring will see a dream come true with the grand opening of the first Local Sunscreen Production Unit (LSPU) in Tanzania. In our last letter we mentioned that a dermatology hospital (RDTC) at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro had started a sunscreen production unit but was in need of expansion, including a building and a larger operations budget. UTSS and Camana Fund (both Canadian NGOs) agreed to provide the outstanding funds needed for the project to see a successful start. Thanks to Mafalda Soto, a Spanish pharmacist and Project Manager, the new building was completed in record time. Finishing touches are being done and then the lab equipment will be installed. BASF, a chemical company in Germany, has agreed to donate a ton of raw materials for future sunscreen production once the lab storage area is ready.
Health & Wellness Team
The dream of a health and wellness team for our Education Scholarship Fund (ESF) students came true on this last trip. Remember, most ESF students live in residential schools and have little or no contact or support from home. This leaves UTSS and the schools responsible for their wellbeing at every level. We are very pleased to report that the team assigned to this task has never been stronger. This trip saw Mafalda (see picture right) distributing her locally produced sunscreen, teaching kids how to apply it and creating immaculate records of each child. In addition there was a locally trained dermatologist inspecting the skin of each child and Dr. Bulugu (our most recent UTSS staff addition) providing general health care. Our social worker, sensitized to childhood trauma, also met with each child to ensure social wellbeing in the dorm and classroom setting. This is in addition to our regular Low Vision Clinics which are run by Dr. Kammer and her volunteer team from California. OUR ESF KIDS HAVE NEVER BEEN IN BETTER HANDS!!!!!!!


Local Initiatives
Another dream came true when a group of Tanzanian citizens acted on behalf of their fellow citizens with albinism. A clinic room at Magu District Hospital has now been designated to address the medical needs of PWA for 2 days of every week. The idea and initiative came from the Magu District Commissioner Monika Nko. This is the first of its kind in Tanzania. The Minister of Health said he would make this albinism clinic a model for all hospitals in Tanzania to mimic. During our team's tour of the hospital we were able to offer an "Understanding Albinism" seminar to the medical staff and PWA who were present as well as donate an initial supply of sunscreen for their patients.
PWA in the Workplace
The dream of PWA taking their rightful place in the business community took a giant leap forward. UTSS hosted the first of its kind Business Community Gala where we introduced 43 college & university graduates from our Education Scholarship Fund (ESF) program to leaders of the business community in Dar es Salaam. Many jobs were pledged to PWA by

the various business leaders that evening. Peter Ash and guest of honour, Dr. Reginald Mengi, honoured each graduate with a certificate of recognition for their academic achievement.
Dreams become nightmaresthe two weeks following our trip saw four attacks occur in rapid succession.
On January 31st, 2013, Lugolola Bunzari, a 7 year old boy with albinism was brutally murdered.

On February 5, 2013 just before 9:00 PM, a 7 month old baby boy, Makunga Baraka, narrowly escaped death without injury after villagers chased the attackers and surrounded the house to protect him.

On February 11, 2013 at 2:00 AM, Maria Chambanenge, a 39 year old woman with albinism narrowly escaped death after 5 armed men (including her husband) chopped off her left arm while she was sleeping with 2 of her 4 children. On

February 15, 2013 Mwigulu Matonange, a 10 year old boy with albinism was attacked and his left arm chopped off above the elbow by two unidentified men.
 
You Can Change a Child's Life
 
Donate Now $29.00 per month provides one of our students with albinism much needed medicine, personal items and clothing.
$125.00 per month funds the tuition, boarding fees, textbooks and all personal costs for one of our students.
A one time gift of $50.00 - or any amount - will be used where the need is greatest in our education programs. Please get involved and change a child's life!

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