Thank you all for coming. We hope you enjoyed the meal.

You know that all around the world, there are life-threatening problems. In spite of its people’s welcoming, friendly attitudes and the continent's beauty, some of the worst problems in the world are found in Africa, like poverty and terroism. One problem even worse than some of these is not very widely-known. This problem is the persecution of people with albinism.

First off, let me say that not many people know about albinism because only 1 in 20,000 people worldwide have it. How many people with albinism have you met? Probably not many. There is only 1 person in 19,000 with albinism in America. But in Africa, 1 out of 2000 people have albinism. In the country of Nigeria alone, one out of 100 people has albinism. Yet it's very misunderstood.

Many people in Africa don’t know that albinism is a genetic condition, and they think that they are unnatural beings. That’s why people with albinism are persecuted there.  I can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like if my 3 month old cousin was in that position. She would be at risk no matter where she was.

Albinism is a hereditary condition that results in a lack of pigmentation, Melanin, in skin, hair, and eyes. This inherited condition is characterized by a lack of pigmentation resulting in pale skin, light hair, pale eyes, and impaired vision. It also makes them prone to skin cancer. Children with albinism as young as 10 years old can get skin cancer easily. Because of this, the average lifespan in East Africa for a person with albinism is 30 years old, and only 2% of albinos in Africa with skin cancer live past 40 years old.

The everyday life of a person with albinism in Africa is too often characterized by loneliness, poverty, and rejection. Children with albinism are stigmatized by their peers, and are often made fun of. The mother of the child is often deserted by the father when they give birth to a child with albinism. The parents' superstitions often lead them to completely abandon or even kill their newborns. Well-meaning but fearful parents may lock them away, isolating them from making friends, going to school, and living a normal childhood life. Those that do go to school often struggle with low-vision which often leads to them dropping out. Imagine that someone you knew had to go through all of this. We may not know these people, but we know enough to want to help. Someone who has made an impact helping African people with albinism is Peter Ash, a Canadian with albinism, who has started an organization called Under the Same Sun.

Jake will now tell you about the more serious problems people with albinism endure and how you can help.

All through Africa, but mainly in Tanzania, people with albinism are often called zeru-zeru, meaning “ghosts or nothing”. It is assumed by some that these “ghosts” are immortal. These dangerous beliefs incite brutal attacks against these people by witchdoctors. A baby born with albinism may be considered a curse and be killed. Witchdoctors take advantage of the ignorance and superstitions, fuelling beliefs that people with albinism possess magical qualities. They spread the lie that the body parts of the people with albinism used in charms and potions bring wealth, power, and good luck. There is even a black market for selling body parts. In class we watched a video about kids with albinism in Africa and got to see for ourselves just how much danger they are in all of the time. The video showed pictures of what they look like after they have been brutally attacked by witch doctors and showed how they are taken care of by medical  doctors. They also showed pictures of their body parts after they had been dug up.

There are several organizations you can support to help Albinos being persecuted in Africa. One of these organizations is called Under the Same Sun, founded by Peter Ash,this organization brings hope to the Albino people persecuted in Africa. God brought it upon Peter's heart to help these people who are being killed not for the things they did but for how they look. Under the Same Sun helps provide sunscreen to protect them from cancer, prosthetics for those who have been attacked and lost limbs, and education. Peter Ash once said that Education is the greatest weapon against discrimination and our most powerful source of advocating a culture toward change. One of the most beneficial things about providing schooling is the safety and supervision it supplies for Albino children, it also makes a point that albinos aren't really any different than other kids in Africa. 

So far Under The Same Sun has had 434 students in the program since 2010, 180 graduates, vocational training and career placement, and they have had a guide for educators of persons with albinism included in the official educational curriculum of all schools in Tanzania since 2013.  Under the same sun has impacted many lives, and has saved lives too. 

If you or your congregations would like to give to Under The Same Sun, you can go to their website. Every dollar given goes directly to serve people with albinism in Tanzania and throughout Africa. That’s because a few generous benefactors cover all of their administration and fundraising costs. Finally any money donated at this dinner will go straight to the closest need at Under The Same Sun in Africa. We thank you all for coming to support Under The Same Sun.:)

https://www.underthesamesun.com/