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Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 31173, member: 636"] People with albinism face discrimination daily, but one group fights hard to change this reality. Loveness Mainato started the Albino Charity Organisation of Zimbabwe back in 2009. Since then, ALCOZ has helped over 6000 individuals across Zimbabwe. Mainato created this support system after her family rejected her for having two children with albinism. The organization aims to improve the lives of people with albinism by fighting the stigma and meeting their needs throughout Zimbabwe. ALCOZ teaches valuable skills like baking, detergent making, and garment production. These programs help members earn money and become self-sufficient. Mainato strongly believes in giving people tools to build better futures for themselves. Health concerns remain a major focus for ALCOZ, especially skin protection. People with albinism have sensitive skin that burns easily and faces higher cancer risks. They need special skincare products that often cost more than most can afford. The charity provides free sunscreen whenever possible to protect community members from harmful sun damage. Finding enough sunscreen presents constant challenges for the organization. They need to distribute protective lotions regularly but lack resources. Recent years brought some improvement with local production at the University of Zimbabwe School of Pharmacy. However, remote areas still struggle with limited access to these essential products in local pharmacies. Despite these obstacles, ALCOZ celebrates many victories. Their awareness campaigns and psychological support services have significantly reduced stigma. Many program graduates have launched successful businesses using skills learned through the organization. Mainato feels proud seeing mothers and young people thrive and transform their family situations through these opportunities. Mainato dreams of ALCOZ continuing its mission for generations. She wants to eliminate all marginalization of people with albinism. She calls on businesses and community members to support their humanitarian work. Together, they can create meaningful change throughout society for people with albinism. [/QUOTE]

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