People living with albinism continue to suffer abuse
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday June 13, 2023 06:00
According to a woman living with albinism, Beauty Ramogapi, they and their children still get abused emotionally and physically.
People living with albinism had gathered at Ramotswa Kgotla on Saturday to witness an occasion where Mascom Wireless working with Ponong Optometrists, Phuthego ya ga Jehofa Church, and Ditsele Albinism Trust, donated spectacles and skin care creams to people living with albinism.
“I want to encourage you as parents to always go to schools to teach those who do not understand albinism. Schoolgoing children say some bad words to us not knowing it is wrong,” she said. “They need to be taught that we are all human but just different.
The same applies to us women when in relationships. Boyfriends and husbands can love us, but their relatives reject us and abuse us. Please know that we are equally human and do everything that a woman would do for their man.” She added that it was sad that they cannot even help at community gatherings as some people would reject the food and rather let it go to waste.
“There is something about growing up being abused, it made us bitter people and we try to fight back with people, which is not okay. We need to do our best to teach our children from an early age to stop this thing. Our children are abused because their parents are living with albinism. We are tired of fighting with people. We were all made by God, the abuse must stop,” she said.
Ramogapi also advised those living with albinism to accept themselves and be as confident as she is. Sethunya Serurubele, a teacher at Camp Primary School in Gaborone said though she is liked by her students, it takes a lot to achieve such.
She said it takes a lot of work to get students to accept her. “It should all start at home, being welcome there, in the community before they even go to school. Without that, they will not go far. You should give them love and make others welcome them.
I have been a teacher for over 26 years and in all the schools, students welcomed me,” Serurubele said. “I accepted myself and showed that I am capable. As parents, make sure you integrate your child into the school.
You should know that even some teachers could be scared of your child. It is important to make sure that the child is integrated into the school, making sure the child is welcome and safe.” Serurubele said each time she has a new class, she would use the first week to bond with the students and make them appreciate her. She said she at times would even buy snacks and have honest conversations with her students who tell her they do not like her. She would then work on finally having the whole class on board.
For her part, Kgosi Mosadi Seboko said while the situation was not bad in Ramotswa, there is a need for more education. “We have different centres for people with disabilities in Ramotswa and we have been trying. I call on all those whose children report abuse to come to us so we can engage. We would not be fighting, rather we want to come up with a lasting solution. We need to understand that these people usually get low marks and fail to progress in life because of abuse. It is thus imperative that we act swiftly whenever there are issues and not just take abuse,” she said.