“A society that lacks education is doomed for failure or self-destruction. Education is the only way to break the cycle of self-hatred engrained in so many of our traditions in order to bring freedom, justice and prosperity to our people.” Coumba Makalou, Executive Director, The Salif Keita Global Foundation, Inc.
1) Identifying the Problems
The African Albino has 2 main social issues:
The African Albino has 2 main health issues:
2) Identifying the solutions:
a)Teaching about albinism in school curriculum
b)Mainstream media exposure
c)Community outreach
Education through media, informational brochures, cultural exercises, eg: what is albinism? Teaching people with albinism and their families how to protect themselves from cancers even if they lack resources for sun blocks and glasses. Explaining in a traditional scenario and local dialects that a person with albinism is not a magical person with supernatural powers, but just a regular human being who is born with a genetic disorder that causes their skin, eyes and hair to lose their regular pigmentation or the melanin that gives them color.
Example: If people in Africa could understand or be taught from a tender age in schools that the source of albinism is scientific and that it occurs in all races, animals and plants, the idea or false propaganda spread by witchdoctors would most likely disappear or be shunned by the general public as fictitious. Albinos would also learn to take care themselves by staying out of the sun, by understanding that they are not protected with the melanin of other black Africans, making them extremely susceptible to skin tumors and cancers.
a) Providing free healthcare (skin and eye)
b) Genetic testing sites for future parents
c) Distribution of preventative eyeglasses, sunscreens, and protective clothing (eg. Long-sleeved cotton shirts, pants, hats)
3) Recommended programs and projects
a) Albinism as part of basic school curriculum
b) Media propaganda that explains what causes albinism
c) Teach people with albinism how to treat or protect themselves from cancer
d) Provide genetic testing for couples to know if they are carriers of the gene
e) Create a resource center and school that accepts all students with a priority of free education to people with albinism
f) Teach self-esteem classes
g) Teach social integration classes for people with albinism, their families and those interested in learning more.
h) Provide role models for people with albinism, specifically children
i) Provide viable career options for those with albinism (eg. Other than farm work or selling in the markets during peak sunlight hours, 10-2pm.)
j) Provide free treatment centers for people with albinism to test and treat skin cancers
k) Provide free vision and eye care of people with albinism
4) What the US/International communities can do
a) Have the declaration of a global day of albinism
b) Global declaration and recognition of the massacre of people albinism as a holocaust and genocide
c) Have African albinos accepted internationally as political refugees
d) Provide funding for programs and projects related to people with albinism
a) Donate clothing, sunglasses, sunscreens
b) Provide funding for albino related programs and projects
a) Speak out about albinism, ask your congressmen to support a national day of albinism
b) Do not discriminate or let others discriminate or tease people with albinism or people with any other type disorder
c) Donate personal time or resources
d)Organize community drives for donations of sun block, sunglasses and protective clothing