What an Amazing Week!

 

A while back, I wrote about our ministry with children with Albinism. As a quick recap, VOH Tanzania entered a partnership 2 years ago with Under the Same Sun, a Canadian charity that is committed to provide care and education for children, many of whom are ostracized, attacked and even dismembered, simply because they have Albinism. We have integrated our ministries, and VOH Tanzania oversees the operations on the ground. 

Meet Chasku

I sat in on an interview with her. Here's her story: (I warn you - it's tough to read)

"When I was 3 years old, I was fast sleep one night. It was a dark night with no electricity, when some men came into our hut with machetes and torches to find and kill me. In the darkness, they mistakenly grabbed the hand of my younger brother, who died a few hours later.

The next day, the police came and moved me and my family to my grandparent's home in a different village. They tried to protect me but eventually said they couldn't do it anymore for fear they would be killed by the attackers. I was taken to Under the Same Sun to be protected and looked after."

She continued, "UTSS has helped me to learn different things. Before, I had no confidence, People used to shame and look down on us. I was scared. Now, I know that God loves us, that we are all equal before God and He gives us the strength that we are not poor but can do anything before God so we have confidence that we can achieve our dreams."

Today, she is 18 years old, preparing to start university next year and planes to become an accountant - and she has the grades and confidence to make it!

Camp!

Now onto the camp! A couple of weeks ago, we had a very special 7-day camp. 240 children and young adults, just like Chasku, joined together from all over Tanzania in one place. It was amazing! The Theme was Jeremiah 29:11. Every day the children chanted:

"God' Plan for me?" with a resounding response "A Future and a Hope!"
Followed by "A Future and a Hope?" .... "God's Plan for me!"

What a powerful message for these are children. most of whom grew up being separated from their communities and told all their lives they are worth nothing, to get into their hearts!

Activities 

The activities included:

• Karate - to learn confidence and self-defense 
• Life skills - with practical skills such as budgeting and digital literacy
• Career - to help figure out their career, how to write resumes and do an interview
• Bible - to learn God's Word and His love for them
• Christian Life - to learn how to connect God's teaching into their everyday life
• Art - like watercolor painting, to build creativity and have fun!
• Music - to have more fun and explore their natural talents

Health Check-ups

Lastly, children with Albinism have special physical needs. Vision is very poor (some clinically blind), Skin diseases are prevalent, and many students complain about hearing loss. Every child at the camp rotated to 3 different clinics, led by local and international health professionals:

• Eye clinic - eye exams with prescription glasses, corrective lenses, sunglasses, magnifiers & binoculars distributed
• Skin clinic - checking for skin cancer or damaged skin (It was exciting to see our students have lower incidences than other children with albinism as they have been trained about wearing long clothes and staying covered)
• Ear clinic - hearing testing, with results being used for a research study to see if there is a connection between Albinism and hearing loss

Plus, there was special 1-1 counselling for those who need extra support for trauma recovery and emotional healing.

What a powerful week it was.

One camp theme song talked about how they will never let go of God because He has good thoughts of them, the other was "The Goodness of God." What an amazing sight to see the so many children and young adults, many with similar stories as Chasiku, sing and dance with confidence and the realization that God truly does care for them and has a future and a hope for them. 

This is why VOH exists. This is why I'm here in Mwanza, and this is why I'm so glad you are part of this ministry with me.  Children with Albinism in Tanzania truly are among the most vulnerable. Yet, today we celebrate that change is happening. There are less attacks, children are more accepted, and they are becoming advocates to fight for a world where we are all seen as equal. Amen.

PRAYER REQUEST THIS MONTH

• Pray that attacks and injustice to children with Albinism end
• Pray that the children who attended came with see their dreams fulfilled and also be agents of change for future generations!