Dear friend,
Zuwena is a single mother with five daughters who lives in Mwanza. Three of her young girls have albinism.
Abandoned by her husband, Zuwena had to work long hours as a seamstress to support her children. She left her kids with a nanny who took care of them while she was at work. When her neighbors noticed a strange man lurking outside of Zuwena’s home, where two of her girls – Fatuma and Rehema – played one day after school, they grew suspicious. One neighbor hid nearby to keep an eye on the situation. Another ran to get the community officer in charge of safety.
When the stranger noticed, he fled. But he showed up later at a bar, asking questions about Zuwena and her girls and alarmingly, showing off a machete he carried with him. There was little doubt that he intended to harm the little girls.
The police were called and immediately realized the danger. That’s because they had attended Understanding Albinism seminars given by Under The Same Sun in the area. They understood how vulnerable Zuwena’s children were, and became suspicious of the nanny. They went to visit Zuwena at her work to alert her of the danger.
Zuwena sent her nanny away and her children survived this ordeal.
What we believe was intended to be an abduction or a direct attack was thwarted because of the vigilance and compassion of the neighbors and the police.
Today, Zuwena is part of our Mamas Group in Mwanza. She and her children are receiving the support they need. And through training she is educating others to understand albinism.