THE GARDENER

- Paschal -

By Standing Voice

February 10^th, 2017

My childhood is a very sad story.

I was born in 1964 on Ukerewe Island. Before me, my parents had another baby with albinism. They saw this baby as a curse, and would often refuse to feed it. It died of starvation.

It died from neglect.

When I came along, my mother refused to breastfeed me. In her eyes, I was a creature and a curse: not human.

When my father realised my mother wasn't breastfeeding me, he feared the repercussions. He bought some cow milk for me to survive.

Other family members refused to share food and water with my parents. They believed I had contaminated our family. We were forced out of Ukerewe Town, and went to live in a village called Rubia.

I had younger siblings who didn't have albinism. They were sent to school, but not me: people said if I went, I wouldn't achieve anything anyway.

The community learnt from my family: if my family rejected me, it was hard for anyone else not to.

At home I was forced to eat separately, with my own cup and plate. I was made to sleep on the floor.

By the time I was 20, my mother had died and my father had become totally paralysed. It was up to my younger sisters and I to take care of him, and to find food for ourselves. I tried to become a fisherman, but the other workers turned me away.

Actually, my life was spent in darkness.

At my lowest point, I drank battery fluid in an effort to end my own life. When it failed, I said to myself: maybe it's not God's wish that I leave this world. Not yet.

In 2013 I was attacked. I was out one evening looking for something to eat when I was ambushed by a group of men. They tied my arms and legs, hooked a rope round my neck, and began pulling me into the bush. They wanted to cut my head off to perform witchcraft.

A female neighbour heard the noises and came running with a torch. She screamed. The men ran away and other neighbours came. I believe my cousin was one of the men, though he denies it to this day, and has never been prosecuted.

After the attack, I met Alex from Standing Voice.

Alex heard about my ordeal, and came to me explaining who he was. He said it wasn't safe for me to live in that place anymore.

Standing Voice brought me to Nansio and built me a house. Where I live now is much safer. My neighbours' attitude and understanding of people with albinism is improving greatly; we sit together, talking and sharing. I'm a very talkative person and love to socialise with others. Now, I can do that; I have people who love me.

I feel secure and lead an independent life. I've never received threats here. I interact with others.

Before Standing Voice, my health was very poor. I used to be in the sun a lot, so my skin was really burnt. I didn't even have a hat. I was in really bad shape. My eyelids were so burnt I couldn't close my eyes properly for two years. Standing Voice took me to get eye surgery and now I can close my eyes. My vision is better, and my skin has improved too, because I use their lotion, Kilisun.

Obstacles remain. It is difficult for me to find a wife. I once met a woman who loved me, but she left me because of pressure from her family. She gave birth to my child, but to this day they live separately from me, and she is remarried to another man in Ukerewe. My child is not allowed to visit me.

As a child, I dreamt of keeping animals and chickens. In the future I'd like to work with animals. When I see them I feel comfortable; to me, they are like my friends.

I am now responsible for the gardening at the Umoja Training Centre, created by Standing Voice. It is in my nature to prefer clean environments, so I try my best to make sure the grounds are beautiful and tidy.

Things are changing for people with albinism on Ukerewe Island. Others are beginning to see our value, and treat us as normal human beings. Without Standing Voice, I doubt I would be here today.