FEATURE-Conquering Kilimanjaro: Women with albinism set to scale Africa's highest peak

By Nita Bhalla

NAIROBI, Sept 27 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Six Africanwomen with albinism who have overcome stigma, abuse, rape andmachete attacks are set to scale the continent's highest peak,Mount Kilimanjaro, to dispel the negative perceptionssurrounding people with the rare skin condition.

The novice climbers - aged between 26 to 35 years old andfrom Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe andSenegal - said their seven-day trek up the 5,895-metre(19,340-ft) summit in Tanzania was to celebrate people withalbinism.

"We are tired of being told we are incapable, cursed andcannot be part of society," said Jane Waithera, Kenyan activistand co-founder of the "Climb for Albinism" expedition, whichbegins on Oct. 1.

"So here we are, six African women with albinism who havesucceeded in their lives despite the odds, who are climbing thecontinent's biggest mountain to amplify the voices of peoplewith albinism - and hopefully be an inspiration to others."

Joining Waithera are Senegalese bass player Maah KoudiaKeita, Nigerian optometrist Onyinye Edi, South African actressand singer Regina Mary Ndlovu, Tanzanian entrepreneur MariamuStaford and Zimbabwean educator Nodumo Ncomanzi.

People with albinism - a lack of pigmentation in the skin,hair and eyes - are frequently shunned and attacked in Africadue to a lack of awareness about the rare genetic condition.

In some countries, they are targeted for their body partswhich are prized in witchcraft for use as lucky charms or inmagic potions. Women risk rape due to myths suggesting sex witha woman with albinism can cure AIDS.

Rising reports of ritual and witchcraft-related killings forbody parts in countries such as Tanzania, Malawi and Burundi inrecent years has prompted the United Nations to appoint aspecial expert to protect people with albinism.

ARMS HACKED OFF

The six women on the expedition have faced their ownstruggles growing up with albinism - some more horrific thanothers - and are now fighting the stigma and raising awarenessabout the condition.

Ten years ago, Staford had her arms hacked off by three menas she slept with her infant son. With help from a charity andaided by prosthetics and a special machine, she started her ownknitting business and is now a prominent activist in Tanzania.

"So many things have happened to me in my life, yet here Iam. They cut off my arms, but not my will to survive and besomething," Staford, 35, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation atthe sidelines of a press conference.

"I want everyone to understand that people with albinism cando great things if they are given opportunities."

The other women told stories of how they were abandoned bytheir parents when they were born, or how they were bullied atschool, or even abused and raped because of having albinism.

Some of the women said they were unaware of what theircondition was until they reached adulthood - struggling throughschool due to poor vision and not understanding why they couldnot play outside as their skin blistered so easily in the sun.

"I could never see the blackboard in class properly, but theteacher would never believe me when I told them. As a result, Icouldn't read or write until I was 25," said Ndlovu, 29.

"My biggest wish is to leave a reference behind for otherswith albinism. I want young girls with albinism out there to seewhat we are doing and think 'I can do this too'".

PERSECUTION TO EMPOWERMENT

But the ascent of Kilimanjaro is not going to be easy. Aspart of their training in May, the women climbed Mount Kenyawhich stands at 5,199 metres - but two of them had to turn back.

Elia Saikaly, film-maker and co-founder of the expedition,said the women will face near sub-zero temperatures near the topof Kilimanjaro, and the extreme altitude will make it difficultto breath - but all precautions had been taken.

The women are equipped with customised sunglasses andsunscreen to protect their eyes and skin. They have a team ofabout 50 people - doctor, porters, guides as well as film crew -who will be supporting them.

"Kilimanjaro is not a joke. It's a very difficult mountainto climb," said Saikaly. "But I know they are capable becausethey are ready - and quite frankly, they have all climbed fargreater mountains in their lives."

The women will begin their ascent on Oct. 1 and climb eachday for between four to five hours. They hope to reach thesummit on Oct. 7.

"This is great and inspiring initiative from so manyperspectives. Mount Kilimanjaro has been conquered by thousandsof climbers, but never by a team like this," said MarcellaFavretto, senior human rights advisor at the U.N. Office of theHigh Commissioner for Human Rights.

"Their climb tells a story of extraordinary stamina andheroism - they have experienced stigma, exclusion and in somecases incredible cruel physical harm, yet here they are planningto undertake an expedition which is certainly not within thereach of the majority of us."

(Reporting by Nita Bhalla @nitabhalla, Editing by ClaireCozens. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, thecharitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitariannews, women's rights, trafficking, property rights, climatechange and resilience. Visit http://news.trust.org)