Aisha’s Story: Hope for Children with Albinism in Tanzania
When seven year old Aisha* walks through her village in northern Tanzania, people often stop what they are doing to look at her. Some whisper quietly to one another. Others point as she passes.
Aisha has learned to keep walking.
Aisha was born with albinism, a genetically inherited condition that affects the body’s production of pigment in the skin, eyes, and hair. In Tanzania, approximately one in every 1,400 children is born with albinism, one of the highest rates in the world. We stand firm in our belief that everyone, including people with albinism, is created with intention and purpose by God, and is worthy of dignity and respect.
Sadly, many disagree.
The Reality for Children with Albinism in Tanzania
For many of these children, daily life includes discrimination, misunderstanding, and real danger. Harmful beliefs rooted in traditional religion have led to brutal attacks and killings of people with albinism. Their body parts are sometimes used in rituals believed to bring luck and wealth.
In some communities, babies born with albinism are viewed as a curse. Mothers are sometimes pressured to kill them shortly after birth.
Even when children survive these early threats, the challenges continue. Because albinism affects the eyes as well as the skin, children are born with significant visual impairments. Classrooms are rarely equipped to support their needs. Many struggle to see the blackboard or read standard textbooks, and others face bullying or exclusion from their peers.
Health risks are also severe. With little or no skin pigmentation, people with albinism are highly vulnerable to the sun and face very high rates of skin cancer.
It is within this reality that Shade serves.
How Shade Responds
Shade is a Christian organization empowering children, families, and communities affected by albinism and other vulnerabilities in Tanzania. Our vision is to see people with albinism accepted and respected in their communities and able to live as productive citizens, safe and free from persecution.
Through Shade School, community outreach programs, and advocacy initiatives that educate communities about the truth of albinism, Shade works to ensure that children with albinism are protected, supported, and given the opportunity to flourish. Each program, resource, and opportunity at Shade aims to display God’s love and care for His people.
One of the ways we do this is through an annual outreach and recruitment program that identifies vulnerable children who could benefit from attending Shade School.
Each year, our outreach team travels across the region to meet families and learn about the challenges they face. The recruitment process is carried out in close collaboration with community and government leaders to ensure that the most vulnerable children are identified.
Early in the morning, the team sets out along rutted dirt roads in a three wheeled vehicle known as a bajaji. They travel from village to village, visiting families in their homes and learning about each child’s background, living conditions, and educational needs.
During these visits, the team collects each child’s biography and carefully assesses their circumstances. Scholarships are offered to children who are truly vulnerable and who would benefit most from the support Shade provides. Psalm 68:6 tells us that “God places the lonely in families,” and we feel called to provide the family that many of these children need. Shade’s scholarship program makes it possible for students to attend our school and be welcomed into the family of God.
During these trips, the team encounters many stories of resilience and hardship. Some stay with them long after the journey ends.
One of those stories is Aisha’s.
Aisha’s Journey
Aisha lives with her mother and four siblings in a small mud home. After her father passed away last year, her mother has struggled to provide for the family. Their home lacks proper sanitation, food is often limited, and there are few educational resources available for the children.
At school and in the community, Aisha often faced misunderstanding and isolation. People would stare as she walked through the village, sometimes gathering in small groups to whisper or point. For a young child, the attention was frightening.
Aisha’s head teacher remembered that her father had once hoped for a different future for his children.
“Before he passed, Aisha’s father dreamed of a better life for them,” the teacher explained. “He reached out to organizations that came and took their names, but never returned. His wish was that his children with albinism would have safety, proper care, and the education every child deserves.”
A turning point came through one of Aisha’s teachers, Paje, who has a family member with albinism. Recognizing the challenges Aisha faced, Paje began teaching her practical skills such as skin care while also encouraging her confidence and sense of dignity.
“Seeing Aisha reminded me of my own niece,” Paje said. “I could not ignore her suffering. I had to act to protect her, teach her, and give her hope.”
Eventually, Paje reached out to Shade to ask whether the organization might be able to help.
The Shade team traveled nearly 95 miles from Shinyanga to Bariadi to meet Aisha and her family. After visiting their home and learning more about their circumstances, the team confirmed that the family was living in an extremely vulnerable situation and that the children had limited access to appropriate education and support.
Shade offered Aisha and one of her siblings full scholarships to attend Shade School.
Recognizing the opportunity this would provide, their mother made a difficult but courageous decision. She agreed to allow the children to live with loving foster parents in the Shinyanga region so they could attend school in a safe and supportive environment.
A Future Filled with Hope
Today, Aisha is a student at Shade School.
For the first time, she is learning in a classroom designed to support children with low vision. She has access to the tools she needs to learn and teachers who understand her needs. She is surrounded by classmates who accept and value her.
Just as importantly, she is part of a community that reminds her she is deeply loved by God.
Aisha’s story reflects the heart of Shade’s mission. We believe that every child is created in the image of God and worthy of dignity, protection, and opportunity. Our work is rooted in the love of Christ and the conviction that children like Aisha should not live in fear, but be able to grow, learn, and flourish.
For Aisha and many others, the journey is only beginning. But it is a journey marked by hope, community, and the steady work of God in places where the need is great.
To learn more about Shade’s work serving children affected by albinism and other vulnerabilities in Tanzania, visit www.shadetz.org.
*Name changed for privacy.
Claire Fedele is the Founder and Executive Director of Shade. She was called by God to move to Tanzania in 2014 to serve vulnerable children and expand educational and spiritual opportunities for those with albinism and other needs. Since founding Shade, Claire has been passionately dedicated to building an organization that combines academic excellence, spiritual formation, and care for the most vulnerable children. Her vision and leadership have guided Shade’s growth, and she continues to inspire staff, volunteers, and donors to pursue the mission faithfully. Claire lives in Oak Harbor, Washington, with her husband, Mike. She also enjoys traveling throughout the U.S sharing with churches and partners about the work God is doing through Shade. Claire spends 3-4 months of the year in Tanzania, offering guidance, leadership, and spiritual direction to the Tanzanian staff.
