Project 46: Seen & Celebrated - Tanzania

Project 46 is a special project with a new partner called Standing Voice based in the UK. Standing Voice defends the rights of people with albinism in Africa. This incredible and unique organization amplifies the voices of people with albinism, giving them tools to build their own futures.

Albinism is a genetic condition that reduces melanin pigmentation in the skin, eyes and hair. Melanin is really important because it protects your skin from sun damage, so people with albinism have a higher risk of developing skin cancer. They also often have poor eyesight caused by a lack of pigment in the iris, and suffer from Nystagmus (say: na-STAG-mass) which causes their eyes to "shake" or move rapidly.

Without intervention, many people with albinism in Africa die very young from skin cancer and their visual impairment is linked to school failure and poverty. 1 in 3,000 people in Africa have albinism and face significant stigma and are ostracized because of their appearance.

Many communities believe them to have special powers and sadly they have been targeted for their body parts by those practicing sorcery and witchcraft, so they can use them as ingredients for magical potions. A staggering 772 witchcraft-related crimes have been recorded against people with albinism since 2006. Tanzania and Malawi have reported more cases than the rest of Africa combined.

Our givers will be supporting Standing Voice’s Vision Program to deliver clinical care, education, and training to treat the visual impairment of 400 people with albinism and develop the capacity of their optometrists and teachers in Malawi and Tanzania. We are so proud to be partnering with an impactful organization and look forward to witnessing the empowering work they are doing across Africa.