The Struggle of Albinos in Tanzania: Hunted for Body Parts and Seeking Refuge

Albinos in Tanzania are being hunted for their body parts with limbs selling for up to $75,000. Many albinos are abandoned by their parents and forced to hide. But I found a secret shelter where a small community is fighting to survive. How does it feel when your own family wants to disown you? He told us that, "I am no longer your father." And also he wanted to kill us. And what is it like to grow up in a place where your skin makes you a target? I'm about to meet Sister Martha, whose life's mission is to protect every albino in Tanzania. Welcome! We are very happy for you to visit us. So the purpose to have this ministry is to change the mind of people, to know the truth about people with albinism,

that we are really human being. From her small office, Sister Martha runs a safe haven down the road, a home for about 50 albino kids who were all abandoned by their families. To protect the safety of the community, I can't reveal our exact location, but here, Sister Martha gives them not just shelter, but education, comfort, and a second chance at childhood. Nice to meet you. How are you? Hello. Nice to meet you.

Here is where we are living, - though it is not in, sufficient. But we thank God that he, he have called me to help my fellow. And this is our kitchen. We have the chef in here cooking. Yeah, the catfish. How are you? Yeah. Fine. Nice to meet you. That looks and smells really good. So nice that she has a home for all these. vulnerable people. So lovely. How did you find each of them to come here? We have been visiting door to door where I hear there is a person with albinism. So when there is a person with albinism, even if it is an elder person, the information is,

do you know Sister Martha or Reverend Martha? If you don't know, here is her contact. How do the families of them feel when you take them here? They are very happy because after education, some of the family come even to visit their children, and some also say, "Okay, we are very happy to stay with our children at home." If there is any challenges, after sending the children home, we have to take them immediately back.

In Tanzania, 1 in 1400 people are born with albinism, which is far higher than the global average. I'm so grateful to be able to spend quality time with them and learn more about their stories. How old are you? 19 years old. You're only 19? You speak perfect English. And where are you originally from? I come from Kilimanjaro. And how long have you been living here? Since I was young, 3 years old. Are you close with your family? Your parents? My mom maybe, but my dad, I do not, I do not know where is he.

He told us that, "I'm not, I'm no longer your father." And also he wanted to kill us. Your father wanted to kill you? Yes. Oh, that's terrible. Do you feel safe here? Yes, I feel happy when I'm here cause I. I enjoy, I like it a lot. I got all my basic needs. And I think how much she has helped me. That's so nice of her to help you. Do you have, like um, like family and friends back home in Kilimanjaro? Or every, everyone is here? I have my young brother also, but he has gone to greet mother.

Do you think you will ever see your dad again? I. usually don't think about my father. He disappointed me a lot. I'm so sorry to hear that. Every day. Sister Martha and Mr. Mganga usually tell me, "Don't mind. Don't lose hope about your father's words." And what do you want to be when you grow up? I want to be a lawyer. That's so nice. You, you have to go to law school, so you're going to study really hard for that.

Yes. Do you ever get to go outside on the streets by yourself? I'm afraid. I cannot go. Many people, they believe that when they get a part of our skin, of our body, they will become. more rich. Do you have any message that you want to say to the world? I love them so much and. let's pray, pray to our God and we shall not believe in bad customs and beliefs upon. people with albinism. Just trying to comprehend everything that's going on right now. It's really, really heartbreaking, but also beautiful at the same time that they do have shelter and they do have a community here.

How many years have you been living here? I stay for a few days. I go home. Do you speak with your parents? Do they. accept you? Yes, they accept. That's so nice. Tell me about the community here. Here I enjoy because I. get everything without any kind of payment. Food, bed, everything. And how about the other people here? Do you like them? Yes. Are they your best friends? Yes. What are some of the struggles that you have?

My family, the problem we have is. a financial problem only. I understand. After hearing what these teens have been through, the fear, the bullying and the isolation, it's clear that life as an albino in Tanzania comes with intense challenges. But for Sister Martha, the pain was unbearable. Years ago, she attempted to take her own life. And that moment changed everything. I was not accepted in my family, in the community, even at school. I feel it is now enough. I was tired. That was the reason to decide even to end my life. After that God rescued me from hanging myself.

I went and threw myself to the river which was full of water. The water waves threw me to the other side. I was very surprised and very discouraged by that. Even God don't want me. It means that I am not really a human being. But from there I heard a voice speaking to me that "Don't be afraid. I love you." Oh. So when I heard that voice, it was like someone come and take out of me a very heavy burden. Then I got another understanding that it is God who is speaking to me, that he loves me.

"If you'll help me. not to die soon, I will help my fellow with albinism." So that was the beginning of this ministry. Can you tell me some of the struggles that. people with albinism have in Tanzania? Medical treatment for skin cancer is very expensive. Can they walk in the streets? Yeah, in Arusha they can walk, but not during. night because it is not safe. They can come from far away and come and find a person here in Arusha. So we caution them, don't walk alone, don't walk during, uh, night. But in the rural area is not safe.

Many people are killed because of that bad myth. If you could say one message to everybody in the world, what would you tell them? People with albinism are people like us. The difference is just this color. But we are people like you. Yeah, of course. Yes. Before we continue the story in Tanzania, I want to take a quick second to thank the sponsor of this video, Morgan & Morgan. When you're on the road non-stop, it gets quite stressful between planes, buses, boats and those rural dirt roads.

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Actually, all of us, we usually perform very well. Sister Martha, how do you feel that you have a lovely community of albino kids behind you? Yeah, I'm very, very happy. My heart is full of joy because I see these children. They are peaceful and also they are very happy. They feel they are loved. My goal for next five years, really, this kind of violences and the stigmatization, it will be like a past dream.

What did you make? That's really, really cool. Thank you! So he just drew this amazing picture here. That's me. It says, I want to tell you about albinism. And this is Corey behind the camera. You may tell me, my friend. Thank you. Despite everything they faced, this community is full of warmth, strength and hope. But it's so sad to learn that more than 800 attacks on Albinos have been reported in Tanzania since 2006. That's why Sister Martha isn't just running a home, she's literally saving lives. So this is one of the bedrooms here where they sleep.

It's like girls' dormitory. Yes, exactly. And how many sleep in this room? Yeah. For example, here, they, they sleep thr three. Then here, two, because we are. we are many. What's your name? My name is Grace. Yes. My name is Margaret. My name is Olivia. Which class are you, Grace? I am in class two. Class three. Next year? Yes. Oh, you? Class three. Next year also? Yes.

This is your son? Yeah, he is. Can you tell me about when he was born? What was your thought process and what happened and how. How did it affect your family? Well. Not really. It didn't affect our family because we have two albinos in our family. You didn't have many, like, hardships, like struggles? We did quite a lot. until they came to sponsor him. It was hard to leave him. around the streets. Right. Do you feel safe when he's here?

Yeah, I feel safe. As I've been developing an emotional connection to these kids, I want to do something special for them because they've been through so much. Aside from a large donation that I gave to Sister Martha, something as simple as a sweet treat can bring a huge smile. These are my favorite when I was a kid. Thank you. You're welcome. Enjoy. This is a surprise in the middle. They are asking how to do it. Oh, how to do it? Take this.

See this? And you rip it open. Take here and then rip it apart. Okay. Can you hear me? Yeah. Then there's two halves. Then you open one half. Yeah, you got it. There's a surprise in there. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. There you go. Thank you. No further. You see that girl? She's, uh, looking very down close because we are very low vision. So she has to bring it very closer. Is that the case for most albinos? Some is severe, some is little, at least. How many years have you guys known each other?

Eight years. What do you want to be when you grow up? Ambassador. How about you? Skin doctor. Nice. And how about you? Doctor. Another doctor. You're going to have a lot of doctors coming out here. Thank you. Woaaah! They have very nice voices. That was beautiful. That was amazing! I could easily stay here for the rest of the day, but Sister Martha invites two kids and I to explore the nearest city together.

Keep in mind that being seen in public can be terrifying for albinos. They face stares, bullying and threats. But Sister Martha knows how to keep a low profile and I think it's important to let them feel everyday street life. Okay. We're with Gift and. Nehemiah. So how does it feel to be in the city? It's good, right? Yes, I feel very happy. Yes. Do you feel. safe walking around the town? I feel safe when I am with Sister Martha. With Sister Martha? Yes.

Nice to meet you. I like the hug. That's a good gesture. She knew me. for a long time because her grandma was selling fruits and vegetable here in the market. So I used to come and buy. and her grandma died, so she kept on. So all the time, sometime. she's even contributing to help the children. Her name is Mary. Aww. Thank you for all you do for the. community. You're welcome. You pick out some stuff. Whatever you guys want. Do you know which kind of fruit is this? Watermelon. This is my favorite. When it's hot outside, some nice cold watermelon.

How old were you when you left Dodoma to come to Sis, Sister Martha? It was in. 2017. And how do you feel now that you're living with Sister Martha? How does it make you feel To stay with Sister Martha? She is my mother. Because she takes me in. That's so sweet of you. I'm very proud of him because when he came, he was not even able to speak Swahili or English. And nowadays, he's good in English.

He can speak Swahili. Do you feel safe walking around the public streets with these two kids? In town, it's very safe during a day, not night. We've made it to the next shop. Sister Martha is zooming around. She's taking me everywhere. All my machines, my sewing machines, I usually buy here because really. they have been very close to us. She tells the owner that don't give her for high price. What do you think about Sister Martha? What I'm doing. is good, very good.

What do you think about people with albinism? She sees us as normal people. I wish that everybody in Tanzania thinks like you. Thank you. Bye. So the hats that you're wearing, you have to protect from the sun because of skin cancer. Right? These. top areas are very sensitive. And we apply sunscreen. Yes. All the time. Yes. Is the situation better for albinos in Tanzania now? One day we were traveling, me and Sister Martha. Then somebody, a conductor, said a bad name towards us. Then Sister Martha said, "No, no, no,

no, we have our names." She called us, "Hey, pigs, pigs," the entire time. Oh my God, it's terrible. Yes. And so Sister Martha said, we have real names. Yes. When I arrived at my school, advanced school, some people. were afraid of touching of me. They believed that when they touch me, they will change their color to become like me. Yes. Really? So some of the students, they say, maybe she does not do. good in his or her studies. But when we do examinations, tests, the teachers, first of all, some of the teachers are wondering, "Huh,

it's you." The people who are having bad beliefs towards you, they starting to become close to you. Yes. Let's go to study. Let's go. My story, it is a hard situation for me. So if I start to explain, I'll start crying. His father was a very drunk. But also he didn't accept him. Several times he was. chasing him with a machete. It's very sharp. He wanted to hurt him. So the mother stayed out of home because of him, and he didn't even want to help him at all.

Well, I'm happy that you're safe now with Sister Martha. I've decided to take them to their favorite restaurant, treat them for lunch. Wow. Our food is here. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Man, I'm just going all in with my hands. This boy. he was kidnapped by bad people but with good luck that they didn't kill him, they just cut but people rescue him. That's so sad.

Sister Martha, how do you deal with finances? Because it's so expensive to. make sure everybody has. food, and how do you deal with that? Donations. I don't have a permanent source of income because this is a ministry, it's not an income-generating ministry. It is really from people with good heart. After spending the day with Sister Martha and her community, I'm left feeling both happy and sad.

Happy knowing that these kids are being looked after and treated well, but sad to know that albinos in Tanzania are still being killed for their skin color. I'm glad to be able to bring attention to their story, and if you'd like to donate, please see the trusted links down below. At the end of the day, every child deserves to live without fear.