On Friday 6^th February I will be hosting a charity concert as a member of The Galeazzi Ensemble at The 1901 Arts Club (London). The Galeazzi Ensemble was formed in 1995 in order to explore Classical and Early Romantic chamber music using instruments of the period. The group comprises myself Lesley Holliday, flute; Richard Wade, violin; Virginie Guiffray, viola and Gareth Deats, cello.

The concert is in aid of Standing Voice, a charity that focuses on improving the lives of those affected with albinism in Tanzania. Please support me my in my efforts to raise as much money as possible for this incredible cause by donating through this Just Giving page. Your money really with save lives and it will change lives forever.

Why Standing Voice?

My introduction to Standing Voice was through a friend called Roubi, who invited me to a private screening of Harry Freeland’s (Standing Voice Founder) film In the Shadow of the Sun. It was an amazing evening; meeting lots of very lovely people, being spoilt with a drinks reception and wonderful food and drink after the film too. However, it was an event which changed my life.

The film showed how harsh life is for Tanzanians who suffer from albinism. The stigma that surrounds them has been ingrained within society for many generations and throughout their lives they battle with prejudice, social exclusion and isolation. Seen as a curse from God, they are believed to bring bad luck to the households they are born in to. Many are killed at birth or rejected by their families. Judged by their skin colour alone they are continually dehumanised and ostracised within their communities.

This stigmatisation has reached an unimaginable new level with numerous people living with albinism brutally murdered in Tanzania since 2006. Many others have been left mutilated. This practice has been fuelled by witchcraft. Witchdoctors say that magic charms are more powerful if they contain body parts from people with albinism, which has led to a lucrative criminal trade in these body parts.

I was deeply moved by Harry’s amazing film and felt in my heart these special people and The Charity had to be part of my life forever. They are beautiful people who are so wrongly persecuted in such a horrific way.  It makes me so grateful I have so much so much freedom and am so healthy. I feel very passionate about helping to make their lives better. I want to use my gift of music firstly to help raise money for the Charity and I hope to be involved in future projects.

About albinism

Albinism is an inherited condition that affects the production of melanin in the body.  People with albinism are extremely vulnerable to skin cancer – shockingly, in Tanzania where the UV index is very high, 98% of the albino population die from skin cancer before the age of 35. Worse still, those born with albinism in Africa are likely to be excluded and violently abused by their community.

About Standing Voice

Standing Voice promotes social inclusion and works to stop human rights violations against marginalised groups. We exist to give the disempowered vital tools and platforms to speak back to their society and reassert their presence and equality.

We strive to nurture people’s understanding of others so that in the future these marginalised groups will be embraced by society. And in the meantime, we provide the essential basic needs they have been unrightfully denied. We currently promote the social inclusion of those living with albinism in Tanzania.

Standing Voice Programmes

Skin Cancer Prevention and Treatment

Education Fund

Emergency Development Projects

Creating Community Centres

Outreach, Advocacy, Education

Low Vision