Around 90% of people with Albinism in Jinja and Iganga district live in rural areas where they can’t grow their own food because of the danger from the Ugandan sun. They also face danger from Albino hunters who use them in ritual sacrifices. Our Albino project with the support of Global Giving aims at will setting up and equipping a vocational school to provide vocational education and life skills training to 200 young people with Albinism in rural Uganda. The training will help these vulnerable Ugandans develop skills to run their own businesses and become more independent.
The purpose of this project is to achieve the following 5 goals:
- Empower people with albinism socially and economically making them financially independent
- Invest in the education of children with Albinism
- Establish sustainable livelihoods for youths with Albinism
- Enable people with albinism to lead more fulfilling lives with investment in health
- Reduce vulnerability and discrimination against people with Albinism in Uganda
Challenges faced by people with Albinism
In rural areas of Iganga and Jinja, people with Albinism face many challenges. They are highly susceptible to skin cancer and other sun-related ailments when exposed to the hot sun- particularly when they try to farm as their neighbors do. Because of their unique condition, people with Albinism are also hunted and used for ritual sacrifice in Ugandan villages. They need a place to learn skills that will help them to become more independent and reduce their reliance on their families and communities.
What we are doing
This project will help children and young adults with Albinism in Uganda by teaching them the skills they need to have their own businesses. They’ll receive direct training such as tailoring, soap making, candle making, and computer skills along with participating in apprenticeship programs. Running their own businesses will mean they can avoid the sun and isolated areas where hunters pursue them.
Read more about this project on GlobalGiving