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IMPACT
MEET THE CHILDREN
YOU ARE PROTECTING
Fatuma
Fatuma’s mother felt deep shame having an albino child and did not want to care for her.
When Fatuma was only six months old, her mother brought her to Sister Helena’s Center and asked that she be taken in.
Sister explained that Fatuma was still too young and that her mother needed to care for her until she was at least 2 years old.
Fatuma’s mother inflicted a severe and deliberate wound to her forehead, claiming there had been an attack on the child’s life. She returned to the center, insisting Sister now take her. Sister Helena immediately took Fatuma to protect her from her own mother. Fatuma’s mother has never returned to visit.
Micheal Mange
When Mange became seriously ill, Sister Helena contacted his father to inform him and seek his support. His father’s response reflected the painful stigma that children with albinism often face. He denied Mange entirely, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about. I do not have a son. Never call me again.”Sister Helena then reached out to Mange’s grandfather, hoping he would show care and concern.
Instead, he responded with harmful and deeply rooted beliefs, saying Mange was cursed and that he himself had bewitched the child.
After nearly a week in the hospital, Mange recovered. But when Sister Helena informed his grandfather that Mange was safe and returning to the Center, his response revealed an even more serious threat. The grandfather said, “Good, because I have sold him to the people who want albino body parts, and I am coming for him.” Sister Helena contacted the authorities to arrest the grandfather.
Mange is safe today and aspires to become a priest. However, no order in Tanzania will accept him because of his albinism.
Kabula
Kabula lived with her grandmother in a remote, poor village near Bariadi, where homes were far apart, and there was no local police station.
Because of widespread stigma and dangerous beliefs about children with albinism, strangers would come to their home and threaten her grandmother, seeking Kabula’s body parts to sell. Kabula was not able to go to school because of the danger.
Desperate for help, her grandmother confided in a local priest, who informed them about Sister Helena’s Center in Lamadi. Kabula and her grandmother were safely escorted to the Center.
Today, Kabula attends school and is a joyful, thriving girl.
Mhindi
Mhindi lived in a remote village in the Ngunga Busega region, where she and her family were constantly at risk because of her albinism.
One night, armed attackers tried to break into their home, threatening her mother with machetes and violence, declaring they would kill her and take Mhindi away.
Showing incredible courage, her mother shouted and made enough noise to alert the villagers and scare the attackers off.
She immediately reported the incident to the village leader and arranged for three escorts to safely take her and Mhindi to the center. Mhindi arrived safely and has been safe ever since.
