Elmi Bile Mohamed, 25, believes that as long as he lives in Somalia, he will never get a job because of the stigma and discrimination against him as an albino.
After failing at every job he ever applied for, he has been reduced to begging in the streets, getting a couple of dollars at most.
I live on what people give me,” he told Radio Ergo. “I am faced with constant discrimination due to my colour, because I don’t look like other people. If I sit with people they will tell me to go away them as if I have an infectious disease
“I have been looking for a job everywhere I go. People tell me that I can’t work and ask me to go away. They say you are such a sick person and you can’t work, so I just walk away because they refuse to give me an opportunity,” he said dejectedly.
He avoids public places, such as restaurants or business centres as his presence upsets some people.
“When people see us, they ask, what happened to you, why are you like this? People don’t understand and hurl insults, but I don’t pay any attention. I try to just carry on with my business,” he said.
He said it was unfortunate that people were unaware that is not a contagious condition. Ignorance was leading to the discrimination.
“People need to understand that this is a genetic disorder, not a disease spread by saliva, touching, or eating together. They need awareness,” he said. There are no official figures showing how many people live with albinism in Somalia.
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After failing at every job he ever applied for, he has been reduced to begging in the streets, getting a couple of dollars at most.
I live on what people give me,” he told Radio Ergo. “I am faced with constant discrimination due to my colour, because I don’t look like other people. If I sit with people they will tell me to go away them as if I have an infectious disease
“I have been looking for a job everywhere I go. People tell me that I can’t work and ask me to go away. They say you are such a sick person and you can’t work, so I just walk away because they refuse to give me an opportunity,” he said dejectedly.
He avoids public places, such as restaurants or business centres as his presence upsets some people.
“When people see us, they ask, what happened to you, why are you like this? People don’t understand and hurl insults, but I don’t pay any attention. I try to just carry on with my business,” he said.
He said it was unfortunate that people were unaware that is not a contagious condition. Ignorance was leading to the discrimination.
“People need to understand that this is a genetic disorder, not a disease spread by saliva, touching, or eating together. They need awareness,” he said. There are no official figures showing how many people live with albinism in Somalia.
Albinos living with stigma and poverty in Somalia
Elmi Bile Mohamed, 25, believes that as long as he lives in Somalia, he will never get a job because of the stigma and discrimination against him as an albino.
