MASHAKA TUJU

Standing Voice's Education Support Officer

By Standing Voice

June 30^th, 2020

I was born in Mwanza, Tanzania to a family of eight siblings. I was the only one with albinism.

My father was suspicious of my mother because of my albinism. He wanted to know how she had given birth to a child with this condition. I believe this was the main reason for their divorce when I was five. As a consequence of the divorce, I was court-ordered to live with my father despite being closer to my mother.

The community had negative perceptions of my condition. Certain myths existed about albinism that were continually repeated while I was growing up. Girls would kiss their blouses if they came too close to me to avoid giving birth to a child with albinism. People would turn their backs to me if I sat next to them to reduce their interaction with me. It was believed people with albinism could see in the dark. Relatives would throw needles into the night and then ask me to find them. When I couldn’t, I would be beaten and told I was a liar.

“I was made to feel terrible. Who am I in this kind of society? Am I not a human being like everyone else? I wanted to be included by my community and my classmates but I was excluded from everything. I did not enjoy life back then. I had not found my voice.”

I started school at age 11. Out of 600 students, I was the only one with albinism. Students, teachers and community members would mark me out as different. In the classroom, I could not read the blackboard from afar and would have to keep walking back and forth throughout my lessons to ensure I didn’t miss anything. It wasn’t until my headteacher intervened to ensure I was always sitting at the front that my learning truly began. As I started to excel in school, other students would request my assistance in lessons because I was good at mathematics.

My secondary school was much the same. I had to walk 30km everyday to get to school and back, which damaged my skin. It was a long, hot journey. But my goal was to get an education: I was not concerned about the powerful rays from the sun or potential violence that might occur during my journey. I still find lesions on my skin that I think can be traced back to this time.

After completing my advanced level and marrying in 2009, I returned home to my family. I could not afford to attend university so I joined a teaching college and trained as a primary school teacher. Before becoming head teacher at a local primary school in Mwanza, I taught at an inclusive school where students with intellectual and hearing impairments and albinism could come together to learn.

“Teaching is my favourite thing to do. Teaching is where I can share myself to the benefit of my students and colleagues. I can make sure students with disabilities are given priority and receive the attention they need. I want to be a voice for students with disabilities.”

It was thanks to Standing Voice’s sponsorship that I attended university. Before this sponsorship, I never believed I would get the opportunity to complete higher education. I had the entry requirements but a real lack of financial support. It is thanks to my degree that I obtained my position as head teacher. I am now also employed by Standing Voice as Education Support Officer. My degree has opened doors I never thought would be possible.

“I have a dream that in the future, people with albinism will live in safety and with respect. But we must keep advocating. We must prevent skin cancer, educate parents and teachers, and encourage the government to improve policies and laws to accommodate people with disabilities.”