Tanzania: Albino child impresses at school

  1. Posted on Monday 6 June 2011 - 10:52
    Mugini Jacob Mwera
    Image of Mugini Jacob Mwera
    Mugini Jacob, VoicesofAfrica mobile reporter in the Mara region, Tanzania
    Despite being albino, 9 year old Samweli Chacha is now the brightest pupil in Standard three class at Mapinduzi primary school which is located in Northern Tanzania.
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    The young boy has always been scooping position one in continues assessment tests, midterm and annual examinations since he joined the old public primary school in Mara Region, according to his teachers.

    He is the only child with albinism in the school that accommodates over 1500 pupils in the area.

    ‘I spend most of my time studying in order to pass examinations and my dream is to become a doctor of medicine as it has been the case with my grandfather’, Samweli told Voices of Africa recently.

    His excellent performance has played a crucial role to enhance his cooperation with his fellow pupils including girls.

    ‘Samweli has now days changed to be a good boy compared to the past when he used to beat us. He is even assisting us to solve difficult questions in class especially English and Mathematics subjects’, the school headmistress Ms Consitansia Mulesi says that Samweli was performing below his ability due to problems he faces in relation to his skin disability.

    They include not being able to read on the black board and recurrent skin wounds that at times force him to stay at home without going to school.

    ‘Samweli is very clever like last year he scooped position one defeating 52 other pupils in standard three but he is facing a lot of problems like not being able to read on the black board’, says the school chief says.

    Samweli ,s parents rely run a small kiosk in Tarime town in which they rely to earn their daily bread.

    ‘The main problem facing Samweli is lack of oil to treat recurrent wounds that emerge on his skin very often’, Samweli's mother Ms Motongori Magaiwa says.

    Samweli is tipped to be the first bright albino pupil to emerge in the Northern Tarime district where children with albinism are still stigmatized and at times denied right to access education.

    Unlike other albino pupils Samweli is forced to stand up and move close to the blackboard when taking notes or attempting class exercises because he can't see properly without the help of spectacles.

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