The Tanzanian Children Center for Albinism NELICO

Let’s help the people born with albinism in Tanzania together!

B.Othingness is a Dutch campaign fighting to reduce the concealment due to (self-) stigma and creating a positive image  and self-awareness among people born with albinism in Tanzania.

A child born with albinism starts life with a great burden on itself in the east African country. Their body parts are sometimes cruelly removed and used in witch doctors’ spells and potions to bring good luck.

In some areas, albino hunters brutally hack off the hair, arms, legs, skin, eyes, and genitals of their victims – abandoning them dead or alive. Body parts from albino people could be sold in the country for thousands of dollars due to superstitious reasons that they would bring luck and prosperity to the ones who possess them.

Controversially, in some parts of the African country they are said to be bearers of bad fortune and again are violently persecuted.

Albinism is a genetically inherited condition which is very rare. Albinos represent one in every approximately 1,400 births in Tanzania – the largest proportion in all of Africa. The condition stems from a genetic condition caused by a reduction in melanin, the pigment which colors skin, hair and eyes.

This lack of knowledge about people with albinism in African societies means that folk tales and superstition in the name of witchcraft take the place of medical and scientific facts in the minds of many native Africans, with and without albinism, which in turn has major effects on the social integration of albinistic people into African society.

B.Othingness and The Tanzanian children center for Albinism NELICO organize in December 2017 a beauty pageant showing the beauty and supporting Miss & Mr Albino under the motto ‘Out of the shadow/ into the light’. The creative work will be done by the African Creative Production Limited. The work fights against the stigma and aims to increase the level of self-esteem of people with albinism, showing their inner and outer beauty.

‘The negative perceptions of people born with albinism asks for a radical and creative opposite approach, empowering people with albinism to show themselves, their strengths and flaws!’, says Bo Jobse – leader of the project.

To make their project in Tanzania come true the B.Othingness team and NELICO organize a fundraising campaign to which everyone can contribute with a self-chosen amount before 31 August 2017.

The bank account to which they accept donations is NL08ABNA0421279079 with reference Mr&Miss Albino project.

As a special thanks will be sent a documented report of the event and a flyer with all supporters’ names in February 2018.

Official sites of the project:

https://bothingness.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/bothingness/