DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- More than 1,000 people from all walks of life, including 300 with albinism, will participate in a 5-km charity walk on Saturday in Tanzania's port city of Dar es Salaam to raise awareness and support for people with this inherited condition.
The event, named the Sunset Charity Walk, is organized by the Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS), a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and empowering individuals with albinism in Tanzania and across Africa, in collaboration with its partners.
TAS Vice Chairperson Abdillah Omar said Friday that the walk, set to begin at 5:00 p.m. local time, will start from Ocean Road and proceed to Tanzanite Bridge in Dar es Salaam. The aim is to raise funds to improve the living standards of people with albinism.
Each participant will contribute 20,000 Tanzanian shillings (about 8 U.S. dollars), Omar said, adding that Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa will lead the charity walk.
In February this year, the Tanzanian government unveiled a five-year strategy aimed at safeguarding and enhancing the welfare of people with albinism.
According to the TAS, Tanzania is home to approximately 16,000 individuals with albinism. Since 2006, the country has experienced a series of abductions and killings of albinos, driven by the false belief that their body parts hold magical powers capable of bringing wealth. ■
