Raising Awareness through Sports
Sports, like dance and music, are a very efficient way to communicate with the community and open up discussion about sensitive subjects.
This project, conducted in April 2018 during the Simba and Yanga match in Dar es Salaam, has sent shock waves to the viewers in whole Africa. They witnessed 22 children with albinism walking hand in hand with their national/international heroes proudly onto the pitch. Prominent football players in Tanzania earn great respect and appreciation from younger generations. Presenting children with albinism with those well-respected heroes on the field has contributed greatly to a positive image and mainstreaming of those marginalized in the society.
Changing the culturally embedded mind-set is a long process that takes years to gain results. This project was a powerful action to trigger the mind of the audience. For the stride against local superstitions, utilizing the existing local structures and resources such as sports, is a most effective and efficient way to get a message across. These modes help opening up an atmosphere for changes to break the long-kept silence about albinism in the communities.
