Established in 2012, The Albinism Royal Foundation is a faith-based non-profit organization dedicated to serving the whole person, physical and spiritual needs of persons living with Albinism in Sierra Leone.
We are currently in the process of expanding our work from Freetown and the Western Area, where most of our efforts have been concentrated in the past, to the north, east, and south of the country.
It is already an established fact that many challenges, unique to their situation, face persons living with Albinism in Africa. This is true on the individual level, and at the group (demographic) level.
We seek to empower persons with Albinism to enable them to live productively and also educate the nation about inclusion and respect for Albinism, and other people groups made vulnerable due to a disability in Sierra Leone and West Africa.
We strive to build productive relationships with other organizations in-country and internationally that have the same goals and make a positive impact on all of our pursuits.
OUR VISION
Every person living with Albinism must have the opportunity to achieve and fulfill their dreams given by the Creator, and embrace and realize His plan for their lives.
Programs
Making A Difference
Telling the good news of God’s love in word and action to all persons living with albinism and other disability groups in Sierra Leone is key to everything that we do. It is our guiding philosophy.
All of humanity is flawed in some way. Most of us are able to hide our deficiency and are thus more easily accepted by others. Persons living with Albinism cannot hide their disability and are thus among those often shunned and discriminated against. God loves everyone and makes no exceptions. He sees all our flaws, even the hidden ones.
It is essential that persons with albinism (PWAs) understand this if they are to overcome discouragement and feelings of inferiority. Not only does God love them, but He has a wonderful plan for their lives that can only be realized in a right relationship with Him.
“People with severe learning difficulties or severe communication impairments may not understand anything at all, but we should not underestimate the Spirit's ability to engage with every human being – as they are – and to make known to them the love of Christ for love is something to be experienced and not understood. Some more able-bodied people may be used as instruments by which that love is conveyed, but that can also be true the other way around.
Disabled people together with all other human beings reflect the image of their Creator God. They do not distort that image any more than anyone else simply because their bodies or minds do not conform to what society has defined as ‘normal’. Acknowledging this reality can serve as a reminder that disabled people should be treated as full and not lesser human beings. Each person, in their uniqueness, deserves the respect and love that would be shown to anyone or anything that bears the mark of the Creator.”
(Wayne Morris, Church Action on Disability)
What we are doing.
Education of the Albino child, male and female, is one of our core programs in education. We would be visiting schools to monitor and check on performance, well being and any issues of discrimination. Package distribution (school materials and scholarships) for education. Children and young people with albinism are doubly vulnerable: they are visually impaired and their striking difference in appearance, looking ‘white’ in a black population, makes them the target of bullying and name-calling. Support at every level of the education system, as well as by the Traditional Authorities, parents and the community, is required to facilitate their education. Head Teachers should be informed and trained about albinism and how to support those with albinism by working with the class teachers to encourage inclusion.
Skin and vision care. We will advocate having free healthcare for persons with albinism, that addresses the need for specialized skin cancer treatment and low vision evaluation.
Without the protective pigment melanin, people with albinism are highly vulnerable to skin cancer. Inadequate skin screening provision, lethally slow rates of diagnosis and an appalling lack of sun protection education, sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats, and protective clothing have given epidemic prevalence to this otherwise preventable disease.
Albinism causes a melanin deficiency that reduces pigmentation in the eye. People with albinism have a complex visual impairment, with altered retinal development and nerve connections to the eye. In albinism, the front and back of the eye develop differently, and nerve connections between the eye and brain are altered. Albinism does not cause total blindness, although many with the condition are classified as ‘legally blind’. Persons with albinism can usually distinguish colors, but their vision will typically lack precision or detail.
(http://www.standingvoice.org/programmes/skin-cancer-prevention)
Skills training. To make persons living with albinism productive enough to take care of themselves and their families, and contribute to the nation's development. Those who have not been able to achieve completion of the standard high school or college should be given access to alternative vocational skills training that will enable them to earn a living wage and contribute to the needs of others in their communities and to the nation. This will help to earn respect and facilitate inclusion.
Advocacy. We advocate for justice, inclusions, funds, and any relief items to equally take care of all persons living with albinism living in Sierra Leone. We seek assistance from Government and Non-governmental agencies, civil society groups, and anyone who is able and willing to help make a positive change in the lives of those living with Albinism.
Completed projects;
Send an Albino Child to School 2018
Distribution of school kits
The distribution of school kits to 26 children with Albinism in Makeni, Magburaka, and Masingbi in northern Sierra Leone went very well, better than we thought it would. The team (5 in number) left Freetown for Masingbi through Makeni for the first distribution. In Masingbi the meeting was held at the township court Barrey (village council) where many people attended including our stakeholders (the representative of the paramount chief in his absence, the town Counselor, the clerk of the court and the Police.
In Makeni the distribution was done at a local Sierra Leone Government Ministry of Education facility. Sierra Leone Government officials were also involved and offered assistance for future projects. They really appreciated the effort made for these children.
