Albino Refugee Youth in Nakivale Empowered by Shared Action Africa.
Bisibizimaan Claudine, a 16-year-old albino refugee living in Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Isingiro District, was supported by Shared Action Africa during a community outreach on sexual and reproductive health services for albino youths in Isungezi village. The program was intended to reach out to albino youth who often fear going to hospitals to access health services and information vital for their wellbeing.
Shared Action Africa extended services directly to the community, providing health care, guidance, and social support. They taught participants how to live in harmony within their communities, addressed challenges of isolation through community trainings and sensitization, and worked to reduce discrimination and mistreatment of albinos in the settlement. The organization also carried out free HIV testing and counseling, shared words of wisdom and encouragement to build resilience, especially among girls, and conducted hygiene training for teenage girls on how to manage themselves during menstruation.
Claudine shared her personal experience as an albino after the training provided by Shared Action Africa, which had intervened in her life.
“I am so grateful to Shared Action Africa for teaching us how to properly use pads. Some of us did not know how to use them. We used to hear about them, but we had never tried them out. We are lucky and blessed today for this wonderful support. I have been trained on how to keep myself clean whenever I am menstruating. I also tested for HIV, and I am fine. As a youth, at an early age, I was trained on how to protect myself from HIV, STIs, and unwanted pregnancies since we live in a busy environment with different tribes and cultures. I was trained to avoid moving at night and associating with men in order to reduce risks of rape and early sexual engagements. I am now properly trained, and I will continue with school until I finish. Shared Action Africa also addressed our problem of isolation by teachers and fellow children at school. As albinos, we were not considered normal. But through community sensitization and school trainings about discrimination, the situation has improved, and we have now regained peace, “she said.
ocus said.