LWCF’s PECA Project: Replacing Despair with Hope
Read about how the PECA project has changed the lives of children living with Albinism in Tanzania.
by Barbara Livieratos, Living Water Children's Fund BOD Member
Spring 2025 Newsletter Update
Imagine a child, their eyes filled with hope, their smile shining brighter than the Tanzanian sun. Now, imagine that same child living in fear—not because of anything they’ve done, but simply because of the way they were born.
This is the heartbreaking reality for children with albinism in East Africa, particularly in Tanzania. Born with a genetic condition that affects their skin, hair, and eyesight, these children face extraordinary challenges rooted in both superstition and systemic discrimination from the moment they take their first breath. They are often ostracized by their communities, denied access to education, and left vulnerable to horrific superstitions that put their very lives at risk. Albinism is more prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa than in many other parts of the world. In Tanzania, the condition affects approximately 1 in 1,400 people, compared to about 1 in 18,500 people in the U.S.
In 2022 Living Water Children’s Fund initiated the Protection and Education of Children with Albinism (PECA) project that supports children with albinism who live in poverty and lack opportunity for an education. When we first met Aisha, Cherlyn, and Goodluck in Dar es Salaam, they were shy and tentative. Although bright, they were attending school sporadically, if at all. Each of them lived with a single parent who tried to protect them from the ridicule, bullying, and social isolation that children with albinism often face. Donors to LWCF have made it possible for these three children to attend a residential school. There they receive a good education, they are cared for in an environment where they are valued, and they are protected from outside intruders. And in three years at their new school, they have blossomed with the change of environment. Their grades are good, they are more outgoing and playful, and they are participating in their classes.
Although just operating for three years, the PECA Project shows that donor support could mean the difference between despair and opportunity for a child with albinism. Donors’ kindness provides the education that opens their minds, and the safe environment that allows them to dream without fear. Most importantly, such compassion shows them that they are not alone—that there are people, even oceans away, who see their worth and stand by their side.
Every child deserves a chance ❤️
Thanks to generous donations Living Water Children’s Fund has been able to help children with special needs receive the medical care and education they need.
Please consider donating to support other students at with special needs, as any gift, big or small, helps us on our mission to make sure children have their basic needs met so that they may flourish and grow.
