A 23 year-old lad from Hammanskraal in the North side of Pretoria is the newly crowned title holder of Mr. Albinism South Africa Charity Driver and Albinism South Africa Activist for 2021 and 2022.
Paul Moroe grew up in a challenging environment and very disadvantaged area that lacks the knowledge about the condition of albinism.
During his childhood, he grew up being called names such as ‘’Leswafi, Lekgowa and Le Albino’’ and also the myths and the stereotypes surrounding his albinism condition.
‘’Albinism is a condition not a disease or something that can be categorised from a person of color, the difference is just the skin color and the color of our hair. Now I’m very grateful for my title because I aim to use it as a platform to inspire those who are born with the albinism condition to embrace who they are.’’ said Paul.
For Paul to be part of Mr. Albinism, he was encouraged by his childhood challenges and how people have negative perspective against people with albinism. He wanted a way of showing and creating awareness that also people with albinism can participate in beauty pageants, he wanted the nation to see that people with albinism are normal as they can be able to do everything that other people without albinism condition can do.
He mentioned how the pageant itself has helped him a lot and boosted his confidence, he was able to do activation for the first time by himself and as well as being able to do some charity work in the community that he comes from.
‘’Being the title holder of Mr. Albinism South Africa Activist and Charity Drive, comes with a lot of responsibilities and commitment. As I will be touring with other title holders for Mr. and Miss Albinism South Africa doing activations around the nation, I wish the government can be part of this when it all happens or even be part of our sponsorship.’’ He said.
Paul has changes that he is rooting to see and he also wants to experience the feeling of being treated like a person without albinism condition. He wants to walk the streets where he will not be pointed or be called by names because he still gets that even to date, due to lack of teaching and knowledge about the albinism condition. He would appreciate if parents around the communities would able to teach their children about difference between people with albinism and those without the condition as being nothing but skin color and as well as the albinism condition as a whole.
‘’We are a uniting the country as a rainbow nation, making me wonder why should we be deserted and be denied by our very own people. This would help the next generation of young stars that are born with albinism condition not to shy away or be closed in boxes. It will be easy for them to come out of their comfort zone.’’ He said.
He mentioned his desire being not only to educate others about albinism, but to inspire those who are born with the condition as to embrace who they are. He wants to break the stereotypes, myths and destroy the discrimination that the society has against persons with albinism in their homes, schools, streets or even at workplaces.