Protection and Education of Children with albinism (PECA)
Sponsorship Program
Help Living Water Children’s Fund provide support for the protection and education of Children with Albinism, in Tanzania through our new sponsorship program.
Become a Sponsor Today!
Through our new sponsorship program, Protection and Education of Children’s with Albinism (PECA) we hope to pair sponsors with young children, which will enable the children to be placed into secure settings, provide the necessary protection against the dangers of the sun, safeguard them against the constant dangers from witchdoctors and bounty hunters, and offer them a real education for their futures.
Why Support?
Children with Albinism live with a constant and unique set of dangers in their lives. As they lack pigment to their skin, the rays of the hot African sun pose a physical danger and require daily sunscreen lotion, large-brimmed hats, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts in order to protect their skin from serious burning. Additionally, children with albinism face the danger of kidnap and maiming, by medicine men or others, who believe that the bones and body parts of a person with albinism are magical, and can cure diseases and bring wealth. Having a child with albinism in a home can be dangerous for other family members, who may suffer discrimination from the villagers, who fear the presence of albinism in their schools or community. In order to receive an education, these children require the attention and protection of a school setting with staff familiar with the care of children with albinism. Through this new program we hope to pair sponsors with young children, which will enable the children to be placed into secure settings, provide the necessary protection against the dangers of the sun, safeguard them against the constant dangers from witchdoctors and bounty hunters, and offer them a real education for their futures.
How It Works
While LWCF has always supported children with albinism in their projects in Tanzania, this program will be our first to specifically pair sponsors with children with albinism for the purpose of their protection and education. We have selected three children to begin our program and invite you to read their profiles below.
The cost to sponsor a child for a year is on a sliding fee from $1000 to $1400 per year and tax deductible. Sponsorship payments may be made as an annual lump sum or in monthly installments, and may be shared among family members, or a group of supporters. As a sponsor you will receive quarterly updates about your child including photos and videos, and most importantly you will receive the gift of knowing you have saved the life of a child, providing opportunities where there were none.
You can sign up for your sponsorship directly on the profiles below or you can email us at info@lwcfund.org to help set up your sponsorship payments offline or by pledge.
Aisha
Aisha is a 4 year old girl living in the care of her father in one small room in a dangerous slum in Dar es Salaam. Aisha’s mother has been a sporadic presence in her life, so her father is responsible for Aisha and her sister (who does not have albinism). He works as a night watchman so he can take care of his girls during the day. He relies on help from neighbors at night while he works. Life in the slum is dangerous. For children with albinism it is especially precarious because of superstitions that the body parts of people with albinism have magical powers. Aisha was the target of an attempted abduction in April 2021 when masked men tried to lure her into their car. Alert neighbors intervened and saved her. That time.
LWCF wants to provide Aisha with a safe environment at a local boarding school. There she will be protected and educated, and she will be able to have visits with her family. Her father is hoping we can make this happen. By becoming Aisha’s sponsor, you can play an important role in not only helping her survive, but also to thrive. This sweet, shy little girl deserves a chance to play and learn in secure, nurturing surroundings.
Goodluck
Two years ago Goodluck’s mother left her husband and son and sold all the family’s belongings. For the last two years Goodluck and his father have been homeless. A friend with albinism is currently hosting them. Goodluck’s dad, Prince, stopped working as a driver so he could care for his son. Prince knows that children with albinism are in danger because of superstitions that the body parts of people with albinism have magical powers. Prince’s most fervent wish is that Goodluck receives a good education. Since he cannot afford school fees, Prince has visited schools and asked wealthy Dar residents to help pay for his son’s schooling – all for naught.
Goodluck likes airplanes and history and shows the potential to be a good student. LWCF wants to provide Goodluck with a safe environment at a local boarding school. There he will be protected and educated, and he will be able to have visits with his father. His father is hoping we can make this happen. By becoming Goodluck’s sponsor, you can play an important role in not only helping him survive, but also to thrive. This bright, inquisitive little boy deserves a chance to play and learn in secure, nurturing surroundings.
Cherlyn
Cherlyn is almost five years old. Neither her parents nor her brother have albinism. When Cherlyn was six months old, unknown persons tried to kidnap her. That attempt was undoubtedly related to superstitions that the body parts of people with albinism have magical powers. Shortly after that Cherlyn’s father took her brother and all the family’s assets and left Cherlyn and her mother, Sayuni. The two came to Dar es Salaam and lived with a cousin until Sayuni was given a plot of land on which she built a small sheet iron house. It is cramped and hot, and their life is hard, but they are making do. Sayuni wants more for her daughter. Cherlyn has an advanced vocabulary and is eager to learn.
LWCF wants to provide Cherlyn with a safe environment at a local boarding school. There she will be protected and educated, and she will be able to have visits with her mother. Her mother is hoping we can make this happen. By becoming Cherlyn’s sponsor, you can play an important role in not only helping her survive, but also to thrive. This clever, eager little girl deserves a chance to play and learn in secure, nurturing surroundings.
Want to Become a Sponsor?
You can sign up for your sponsorship directly on the profiles below or you can contact us to help set up your sponsorship payments offline or by pledge or to inquire about sponsorship details.