Dear Friends,
As I look towards Christmas and the New Year, I’ve been reflecting on my trip to Tanzania this summer and the truth that guides everything we do at Under The Same Sun. Inspired by Genesis 1:27, we believe every child and adult with albinism is created in the image of God. They are worthy of safety, dignity, education, love, and a future filled with hope.
On my trip, there were two moments that really stood out and reminded me of this truth and the importance of our mission.
The first was a meeting with Kusekwa, a 44-year-old man with albinism from the Mara Region. He spoke quietly, but his words carried a heavy weight as he shared how he was attacked just a few months earlier. He recounted that night in June where he was woken up by the sound of pounding on his door. A man he recognized from his own village broke in and struck him with a machete. He remembers laying on the ground bleeding, and hearing the chilling words, “I’m going to finish you.” He thought he was going to die.
His wife’s screams saved his life, summoning neighbours and family who scared the attacker away. But while Kusekwa survived, justice did not. Despite the attacker being a known witch doctor, police dismissed the assault as a “property dispute,” even though Kusekwa owns no land. He told me he feels devalued, often called “Zeru Zeru” (ghost) and even a dog throughout his life. His home is damaged, his family traumatized, and his story is a stark reminder that safety is still a daily battle. Listening to him reminded me how easily the world can forget that he is created in God’s image, deserving of safety and dignity.
The second moment was with a student you may remember, Adam Robert, whom I first met in 2011 when he was just 12. Adam was a survivor of a brutal attack that left him missing fingers but still holding onto a dream to go to school. Because people like you cared, we were able to help restore his hand through surgery and support his healing and education in safe, secure boarding schools.
A week after sitting with Kusekwa, I witnessed a moment I never thought I would see. On August 4th, Adam returned to his family home for the first time in fourteen years. He had been hesitant to go back and agreed only because he knew the UTSS team and I would stand with him.
When he arrived, his grandmother welcomed him with open arms. Sadly, the rest of the crowd were not as quick to receive him. Even so, Adam showed remarkable courage as he faced his fear and stepped into the place where his childhood had been shattered. Later he told me he was glad he went back. I hope it was a meaningful step in his journey toward healing and closure.
That moment reminded me that the image of God is never erased, even by unthinkable harm or by those who try to diminish it. With love, support, and the faithful compassion of people like you, that image is reflected more clearly in their lives.
Today, Adam is a Diploma student in Community Development, determined to build a more inclusive Tanzania. His journey is a testament to what compassion can create.
Kusekwa’s story and Adam’s healing remind me why UTSS exists.
They also remind me why your support matters. When you give, you help restore what violence and discrimination try to take away. You provide safety, care, and a community who see each student’s God-given worth. You bring hope and light to the darkness.
This year, your generosity supported more than 200 students with secure school placements, healthcare, skin and eye care, and trauma counselling. You strengthened advocacy across Tanzania and stood with us as the African Court delivered its historic judgment.
Every life touched carries your fingerprints.
As I share these moments with you, I also need to be honest about where we stand. Costs have risen everywhere, and Tanzania is no exception. University fees continue to increase, and we now have more students in university than ever before. It’s something to celebrate, but it also means our financial needs have grown faster than we expected.
This Christmas, I’m asking you to dig a little deeper if you are able. Your support has carried these students through some of the hardest chapters of their lives and remains just as vital today. Your gift helps keep them in school, safe, and moving toward the futures they’ve worked so hard for.
Click here to give today. With our end-of-year gift match, every donation will be doubled!
Thank you for believing in this mission and making it your own. May you experience peace, joy, and happiness this Christmas season!
With gratitude,
Peter Ash | Founder and CEO UTSS
