Global Giving

I made a donation today to this cause.

At the moment the Global Open Challenge 2009 is taking place on Global Giving. Each project that is able to raise a minimum of $4,000 and at least 50 separate donors until September 18 will be invited to stay on at GlobalGiving.

It nearly broke my heart to read the story behind one of the project that takes part in the challenge: Safe Water to 120 Albino Families in Tanzania (http://www.globalgiving.com/projects/safe-water-to-120-albino-families-in-tanzania/)

For an Albino in Tanzania, fetching water from a natural source and getting home safely, one need to be extra lucky, even when is armed with a machete. There have been since last year albino killings in Tanzania as the albino organs, particularly genitals, limbs, breasts, fingers and the tongue are in high demand by people involved in mining and fishing activities in the Lake Victoria Zone, especially Mwanza, Shinyanga, Kagera and Mara regions. "They cut my daughter quickly,” she said, making hacking motions with her hands. She had dropped out of school because of short-sightedness a common problem for albinos. - Mother of a killed Albino daugheter

Through this project, some sixty water storage tanks will be constructed at the homes of vulnerable Albino Families to enable them to harvest and store rain water for their needs. It will also provide skin protection, vision aid and home solar lighting.