Families of children with disabilities are among the poorest of the poor in Shinyanga. This is due to their challenging family duties making it difficult to engage in economic activities (eg farming away from the family home) together with social isolation. The communities of the Shinyanga region are characterised by traditional beliefs that encourage stigma connected to children with disabilities. Witchcraft and the persecution of people with albinism is still prevalent; cultural norms include murdering those with albinism for their body parts which are thought to bring good luck; hair, arms, legs and blood are used to make potions which the witch doctors claim will bring prosperity.

It is against this background that Friends of Amani Tanzania wish to support the Anglican Church in Shinyanga to take a lead in educating the community at large and the families of children with disabilities that :

a child with disabilities is not a curse

people with disabilities have equal rights to those without a disability

communities should take responsibility for supporting families with children with disabilities, and

the Church should commence community rehabilitation work as soon as practically possible.

We are eager to implement a plan to send a team from the Amani Centre in Morogoro to share their knowledge and experience of working with people with disabilities, with volunteer community workers in Shinyanga. Please help us raise a further £3,500 to conduct this training.