Souls worth living too | Arzoo Rajpar | TEDxYouth@AKAMombasa
The speaker, from Tanzania, argues that the violence against people with albinism stems from deeply entrenched stigmas, which are exploited by authorities, rather than any inherent trait of the individuals; she illustrates this by detailing the threats faced by people like Joyce, who were attacked while going to school. ## Speakers & Context - Speaker grew up in Tanzania and questions the perceived kindness and peaceful nature of the country due to observed disrespect and lack of integrity. - The speaker initiated research into albinism after seeing a newspaper article about a baby boy killed for his body parts. - The speaker undertook a documentary journey to raise awareness about albinism in the Danan community. - The speaker concludes by directly calling for help to support people with albinism across the East African Community. ## Theses & Positions - The continued disrespect and lack of integrity prevent national growth, as people are deprived of opportunities and happy lives. - The crimes committed against persons with albinism are perpetuated not by random individuals, but by people with authority, large sums of money, and education. - The belief in the magical properties of albinism is a false stigma, first propagated by witch doctors. - People with albinism are constantly under threat, especially during childhood, facing oppression in the workplace and public staring. - The solution requires educating the East African Community to dispel lies and prove that albinism is simply a biological condition. ## Concepts & Definitions - **Albinism:** A skin condition characterized by a lack of melanin or pigmentation, resulting in pale skin, blue or grey eyes, and black hair. - **Danger of Albinism:** The skin is very prone to severe skin burns, leading to skin cancer, and can also cause vision problems. - **Stigma:** A historical belief surrounding persons with albinism suggesting they possess magical properties that grant wealth, success, or fame. - **False Beliefs:** The concept that persons with albinism are ghosts, that they disappear, or that they will only bring chaos to a home. ## Mechanisms & Processes - **Historical Propagation:** False ideas were first circulated by witch doctors who requested albino body parts to brew potions granting desired outcomes. - **Crime Perpetration:** Body parts are sold for substantial sums, sometimes reaching up to $75,000, by people with authority, money, and education. - **Community Resilience (Joyce's example):** Despite attacks, Joyce's family is described as caring and supportive, ensuring education for both her and her brother who also has albinism. - **Education as Resistance:** The speaker’s goal is to use awareness campaigns to educate and counter the stigma. ## Timeline & Sequence - **Three years ago:** Speaker started learning about albinism after an article about a baby boy killed for body parts. - **June and July 2015:** Speaker went on a journey to create a documentary about the issue. - **Childhood:** The most sacred time of an individual's life, when individuals are constantly under threat. ## Named Entities - **Tanzania:** Country where the speaker grew up, described as beautiful and peaceful. - **East African Community:** Regional body targeted for education to dispel lies about albinism. - **Joyce:** Young girl who, at age 14, escaped being chased by two men who wanted to kill her during an albinism attack. - **Sidi:** Young boy residing at the Salvation Army school. - **Salvation Army school:** Location where approximately 100 children with albinism reside. ## Numbers & Data - **$75,000:** The price for albino body parts. - **14 years old:** Joyce's age when she escaped an albinism attack. - **100:** Approximate number of children with albinism residing at the Salvation Army school. ## Examples & Cases - **Newspaper Incident:** An article about a baby boy killed for his body parts, leaving his mother devastated. - **Joyce's Attacks:** Two occasions where Joyce was chased by two men on her way to school, which she managed to escape. - **The School Life:** Children at the Salvation Army school are described as full of life, hope, and happiness, counteracting the fear surrounding them. - **The Criminality:** The realization that perpetrators are not random criminals but people possessing authority and education. ## Tools, Tech & Products - **Newspaper:** Medium where the speaker first encountered information about the crimes. - **Documentary:** The medium used by the speaker during her journey to raise awareness. ## References Cited - **Witch Doctors:** Group responsible for initially propagating the false ideas regarding albinism. - **National/Local Media:** (Implied) Sources of information regarding the crimes. ## Trade-offs & Alternatives - **Current State:** Suffering from persistent threat, oppression, and being seen as objects rather than human beings. - **Desired State:** A life where people are seen for who they are, enabling them to live in happiness and without fear through education and support. ## Counterarguments & Caveats - The initial perception that albinism was only a local issue in Tanzania. - The presence of stigma and danger across East Africa, including Kenya and Burundi. ## Methodology - Investigative research beginning with reporting on a specific crime (baby boy). - Documentary filmmaking to raise awareness and educate the community. - Direct testimonial collection from survivors and residents (Joyce, children at the school). ## Conclusions & Recommendations - **Call to Action:** The speaker calls out to the audience to support people with albinism, enabling them to access education, live healthy lives, and live without fear. - **Goal:** To educate the East African Community and expose the truth that albinism is merely a biological defect, not a source of magic or evil. ## Implications & Consequences - Continuing to kill persons with albinism means taking "another innocent and valuable Life Away." ## Verbatim Moments - *"how can we be kind when we continue to treat each other with such disrespect and without Integrity"* - *"I took the initiative to learn about albanism about 3 years ago when I came across an article on the newspap in the newspaper of about a baby boy who was killed for his body parts leaving his mother devastated"* - *"This stigma is characterized by the belief that persons with albinism have magical properties that their body parts can grant wealth success Fame"* - *"their body parts are sold for up to $75,000 and taken to Witch Doctors"* - *"this is proof that even the most successful believe in the stigma"* - *"I call out to all of you to help me support peasants with albanism believe in them enable them to live healthy lives to access education to ensure that they live in happiness with their families and without fear"* - *"the only thing you do when you kill a person with albinism is take another innocent and valuable Life Away"*