You can aid Every Child Ministries in helping the most marginalized children in society--like African children born with albinism.

Albino children

 In Uganda, as in many African countries, albino children are often considered a curse, as is any unusual occurence.  At Every Child Ministries, a Christian mission for the forgotten children of Africa, we understand that albino children are valued and loved by God.  Like EVERY CHILD, they are valued because they are created in the image of God.

These children are often ostracized, sometimes ridiculed,  neglected, despised.  That's why ECM is establishing a program to reach out to them.

ECM is showing them God's love in a very practical way--by giving them the gift of a pair of sunglasses.  This is not just a frivolous gift.  The eyes of albinos are extremely sensitive to sunlight--so much so that the sun's rays can be a torture to them.  The little boy in this picture walked around with his arm constantly in the air in a vain attempt to shield his sensitive eyes from the sun.  Immediately after an ECM team member gave him a pair of sunglasses, his arm came down.  He was able to walk around with his arm in the normal position, like other children.  He immediately experienced obvious relief from the burning sun.

This project was launched over the New Year's holiday, 2009.  As we distributed the sunglasses we shared the Gospel story of God's amazing love with the children, give them hugs to demonstrate our acceptance, and gather information so we can keep in touch with them. 

Albinos have a tendency toward skin cancer, sores and other health problems, caused because their skin lacks the natural protection that melanin pigment gives.  Their condition, called albinism, is not curable.  It is caused by a combination of recessive genes that cause them to be born without melanin pigmentation in their skin.   Albinism can occur in animals as well as in people.  Albinism is fairly frequent in Africa, where people frequently marry within clan groups, increasing the chance that this particular set of recessive genes will be combined from both parents.

Through the help of many friends, ECM has been able to do some practical things to help protect the children from the negative effects of exposure to the sun and also to create some materials that may help people understand albinism better and thus accept albinos more freely.  Most of all, we are doing our best to make sure these children know that they are deeply loved by God, and  to demonstrate that fact by showing them God's love in practical ways.

Thanks to the generosity of many friends, we have a good supply of sunglasses.  You can still help by donating sunblock lotion, empty eyeglass cases, wide-brimmed cotton hats, and long-sleeved light-colored cotton shirts, and enlisting your group to do the same.  Donations to help defray the cost of shipping these items to Africa are also appreciated.  General donations designated to the Albino Project allow us to purchase supplies in Africa and avoid shipping costs.  This fund also is used to educate albinos, their families and the public about albinism.

Items may be shipped to:

Every Child Ministries
875 S. State Rd 2 (for UPS or similar shippers)
PO Box 810 (for postal service)
Hebron, IN 46341

Click the Donate Now button to give a gift:

Do you have, know or minister to an albino child?
Here are a few tips you might find helpful:

• Send the child to school and expect him or her to develop as other children do.  Albino children are normal in mental capacity.
• Try to protect the child from the ridicule of others who may not understand his condition.  Don't allow others to ridicule him.
• Help family members to understand that albinism is not a disease.  They cannot "catch" it by touching the child or associating with him.
• Let the child hear you thanking God for the blessing of sending him into  your life.  This will help to counteract the idea that he is a curse.
• The child's eyes are extremely sensitive to light.  He needs dark sunglasses to protect his eyes.  A broad-rimmed hat can help, too.
• The child's skin needs special protection.  This can be achieved by using sunblock and by having him wear long sleeved clothing, long pants and enclosed shoes.  White or light clothing which reflects the sun is best.

Children with Albinism Ministry Album

Children with albinism often have poor eyesight, but they have a normal range of intelligence.  They can go to school and learn.  Inside jobs (out of the sun) are preferable for them, and education is usually necessary to obtain such jobs.	Kitty Rickert and Resty Nakaliisa talk with some albino children at the ECM Uganda National Ministry Center.  It is important for children to understand their condition so that they will not be afraid.
Christine Sliwinski shares some important insights about albinism with albino children and their families.	You mean we are not cursed?  You mean we are normal children?  You mean God loves us, too?  Wow!
Christine Sliwinski and Jessica Mathison enjoying the company of an albino boy who visited the ECM Center with his family	Lorella Rouster listens to the concerns of parents who have albino children and shares tips on how to help them become all God will enable them to be
ECM staff with albino children and their families.	If an albino child has trouble learning to read, parents should have his eyesight checked and teachers should move him closer to the blackboard in the classroom.
Some albino children and their families receive teaching and practical helps at ECM's Uganda National Ministry Center.	While others talk with their parents, Brecka Arnett and Jessica Mathison entertain an albino boy show shows great interest in books
Pray with us at ECM that the albino children of Africa may learn and feel that they are worthwhile, created in God's image, loved and valued by Him.	Lorella Rouster shows pictures and talks about albinos who have accomplished worhwhile goals in their lives.  Albino children are often put down and need positive role models and hope that they can live positive lives.
Lorella Rouster with a group of albino children that has just received teaching and practical helps from ECM	One of the great tragedies is that many families do not consider it worthwhile to educate children born with albinism.  Yet these children are as able to learn as any others!
Albino children--Most are just like any others, except the lack of skin pigmentation makes their skin and eyes extremely sensitive.	Debi Howey has made a new friend.

Helpful educational materials on albinism developed by Every Child Ministries:  (Use them freely with our blessing!  If you reprint them, we'd appreciate an acknowledgement & link to our website.  Thanks!)

Teaching for the child with albinism

Teaching for the parents of a child with albinism

Guidelines for school administrators & teachers who have a child with albinism in their school or class

Questions & Answers about albinism

Home page of Every Child Ministries

You can help!  We are always in need of sunblock to help children with albinism.  If you can donate sunblock with a valid expiration date, please send your gift to:

Every Child Ministries
PO Box 810,  Hebron, IN  46341     Thank you!