I am as I am
Powerful Words from Our Students: Watch Shade School children recite “I Am as I Am,” a stirring poem that challenges stigma and celebrates their identity.
Join Us in Building a Brighter Future
This year-end, help us expand our reach and deepen our impact. Together, we can raise up a generation of leaders who will change Tanzania—and the world.
From Hidden to Hero: Meet Sebastian
Not long ago, Sebastian’s life looked very different. Born with albinism, he spent the early years of his life hidden away in his home. His mother, fearful for his safety, kept him out of sight. In a society where superstition and stigma can lead to violence against people with albinism, her fear was not unwarranted. If you have followed Shade for very long, you will remember Sebastian.
John Migila, Shade’s Tanzanian Director and a person with albinism himself, heard about Sebastian. John met with Sebastian’s mother, sharing his own story and assuring her that Sebastian’s life could be full of possibility. Moved by John’s conviction and example, she enrolled Sebastian at Shade School, making him our very first student with albinism.
Today, Sebastian is thriving. Confident, charismatic, and consistently at the top of his class, he is a leader among his peers. His transformation is the fruit of what happens when education, advocacy, safety, and discipleship come together at Shade. Sebastian is a living testimony of the incredible potential that lies within every child.
Our vision is bold: to create a world of inclusion, development, and dignity for people with albinism and other vulnerabilities. This is why we’re continuing to grow—and we’re inviting you to grow with us.
In January 2025, we’ll be opening our doors to a new 4th-grade class and laying plans to build the additional block of classrooms that will be needed for 5th and 6th grades. We will build more bathrooms, and enhance security by starting to build a perimeter wall.
Our goal is to raise $200,000 during our 2024 year-end campaign. Every gift you make directly impacts our ability to educate and empower children.
Will you consider a gift this holiday season to help us welcome a new class of students, enhance our facilities, and expand our reach? These valuable funds will allow us to do the following:
- $70,000 will build a block of four classrooms in 2025 to accommodate our next grade levels.
- $30,000 covers the cost of building additional bathrooms for our growing student population.
- $50,000 allows Shade to continue to grow our staff, school resources, and community engagement to meet the needs of an expanding number of students and vulnerable families.
- $50,000 bolsters Shade’s capacity to continue growing our reach to those who need it most.
