Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE association of people with albinism in Kigamboni has sought out support from institutions, organizations and communities to initiate and engage various projects that would generate income for improved living standards.
Speaking to reporters after receiving donations from a betting company Meridian Bet, the association chairman, Kassim Kibwe noted, some of its members have various professions to raise and manage the association’s funds.
Also Mr Kibwe said the empowerment initiative will help strengthen them financially and bolster their efforts to boost the income of people with albinism.
“We do not want to be beggars but what we want is financial support even with the provision of other material assistance so that we can plan for life and uplift ourselves through various professions,” said Mr Kibwe.
In our association we have people with various skills, tailors and others with artistic talents, but they cannot employ themselves because they do not have capital.
He further said if they could get jobs to earn income it would be cheaper for them to be self-sufficient and even afford their daily basic necessities like buying oil for their skin.
The Meridian Bet Welfare Manager Aman Maeda said, despite being one of the company’s employees arriving at the centre to provide assistance, they were touched by the association centre’s efforts to self-employ and we promised that the company would empower them with 50 per cent.
“We have decided to support people with albinism as part of the company’s policy to give back to the society part of our profits, we have brought aid to the center here but we will also help them employ themselves,” he said.
For his part, Omary Ngurangwa, Councilor-Designate of Mji Mwema Ward in Kigamboni District, said that the support will help people with albinism in the centre to protect themselves against various diseases while urging other stakeholders to come forward to help them.
Mr Ngurangwa expressed gratitude to the betting company for the support that will among others help them in fulfilling their responsibility to help these people become self-employed so that they too can fulfill their dreams and talents.
