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“Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world...would do this, it would change the earth.” -- William Faulkner
UTSS uses a variety of means to educate the public:
- Understanding Albinism seminars in villages, universities, schools, hospitals, and more.
- “The Truth About People with Albinism” leaflet distribution in rural areas.
- National media presence: radio, TV, newspapers, magazines.
- White and Black: Crimes of Colour documentary film screenings across Tanzania
An abduction is thwarted by alert neighbours.
As friendships form, prejudices fall away
Behind the scenes of the screenings
We make sure survivors have adequate medical attention, counselling and a safe place to go.
If there has been a murder, we help with the funeral, and console the family.
We collect the facts related to the attack for legal action and to expose it to the media.
Information is provided to law enforcement, local government officials, international agencies and media.
We conduct Albinism Awareness Seminars right in the neighbourhood and community where the attack happened.
Little Baraka just lost his right hand to a vicious machete attack in his rural village home in Mbeya, Tanzania. Immediately the UTSS First Response Team springs into action, travelling to the site. Vicky Ntetema, Executive Director of Under The Same Sun Tanzania and leader of the team visits Baraka (6), his sister Lucia (3) and their mother Prisca at the hospital.
Vicky teaches Baraka’s mother Prisca about albinism, as the regional Secretary of the Tanzanian Albinism Society (standing) looks on. Prisca sustained head injuries while attempting to save her son during the attack. She has a total of 3 children with albinism.
Next the team visits the Kipeta Police Station in Baraka’s village. Vicky conducts an “Understanding Albinism” seminar for the police officers while three UTSS security personnel (standing by the vehicle) review the security risks in the area.
Enroute to Baraka’s house, the First Response Team encounters road challenges. This is a potentially dangerous situation for the team since they are coming to investigate the recent attack. Fortunately, villagers help to get the vehicle out of the sticky situation.
The team arrives at the house where Baraka was attacked as he was sleeping with his parents and siblings.
They gather evidence from the attack including photographing this mark on the ground. It was left by a machete strike when unidentified men pinned down and hacked off Baraka’s right hand.
Villagers in front of Baraka's house explain to Vicky Ntetema how the attack occurred..
Vicky interviews Baraka’s neighbours to get the facts regarding the attack. At the same time, the team takes the opportunity to give an albinism awareness seminar to the neighbours. It is hoped that next time something like this happens, the neighbours will recognise the danger and do more to help.
Meanwhile, back at the hospital Baraka is getting ready to leave for a safer place. He tries on new clothes given to him by the First Response Team. At the request of his mother, they’ll move him to a safe house and he will join the UTSS education program.
- UTSS enjoys full NGO status at the United Nationas and makes regular presentations to U.N. committees.
- The U.N. has issued 5 Human Rights Council Resolutions and the African Union has issued one, as a result of UTSS work.
- International Albinism Awareness Day was named as June 13 by the U.N. in 2015
- Since 2016, the U.N. has created the position of Independent Expert on Albinism
- UTSS is the main source for publishing international data on human rights violations against persons with albinism. This data is used by the U.N., UNICEF and many others.
- In 2015, UTSS hosted the 1st Pan-African Albinism Conference with 38 countries and over 200 delegates participating.
- UTSS regularly receives international media coverage, and has sparked the making of many films, documentaries and books about the issues surrounding albinism in Africa.
Peter Ash interviewed in the halls of the U.N.
1st ever Pan-African Albinism Conference hosted by UTSS.
Adam’s story in the film “The Boy from Geita” brings international attention. Film available on iTunes.
