In this powerful episode, Josh and Sarah welcome Peter Ogik, Executive Director of Source of the Nile Union of Persons with Albinism in Uganda, who shares his personal story and advocacy work.
About our guest: Peter Ogik was born and raised on an island in Lake Victoria, Uganda. As the first person with albinism in his community of about 600 people, Peter faced discrimination from birth but was fortunate to have supportive parents who advocated for him, especially in school settings where he initially struggled due to bullying and visual impairments associated with albinism.
Key topics discussed:
- Personal experiences with discrimination: Peter shares how he was called “a thing” rather than a person, and how children were told not to sit near him because of harmful myths.
- Educational challenges: Teachers initially placed Peter at the back of the classroom despite his visual impairments until his father intervened, leading to improved academic performance.
- Dangerous misconceptions: Peter survived three kidnapping attempts by those seeking to harvest his body parts for witchcraft, based on the false belief that they bring wealth.
- Health challenges: Persons with albinism face high risks of skin cancer, with over 90% dying before age 30 without proper protection and care.
- Women and girls with albinism: They face additional challenges, including sexual violence based on the myth that intercourse with a woman with albinism can cure HIV/AIDS.
- Advocacy work: Through his organization, Peter works to:
- Educate communities and change harmful perceptions
- Provide mobile skin clinics and sun protection
- Train teachers to better support students with albinism
- Advocate for policy changes like tax exemptions on sunscreen
- Signs of progress: Peter notes how community attitudes are changing, with more persons with albinism now graduating as doctors, lawyers, engineers, and other professionals.
- International Albinism Awareness Day: This UN-recognized day (celebrated since 2015) has become a powerful platform for education and policy influence in Uganda.
Resources mentioned:
- Source of the Nile Union of Persons with Albinism (SNUPA)
- Advantage Africa, a partner organization since 2013
This episode highlights how education and advocacy can combat deadly superstitions and improve lives for marginalized groups. Peter’s message is one of resilience and hope: “I can’t wait to see the tomorrow whereby a person will not define me by my appearance, but will define me by my abilities.”
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Links
Source of the Nile Union of Persons with Albinism
International Albinism Awareness Day Facebook Page
End Witch Hunts U. S. Nonprofit Organization
Donate to Witch Hunt Podcast Conference Fund