Bamshak Michael Kyak is a person with albinism from Daika in Mangu local government of Plateau state. He is from a family of four children, three girls and he is the only male child.
He started his education at Munum Primary School and later Government Secondary School Daika.
He wrote JAMB in year 2019, but could not gain admission. He tried again last year 2020, but Covid-19 disrupted everything. But he is hopeful, when schools are fully back , He would go for my post -UME with Plateau State University Bokkos.
In chat with Bulus Izang our correspondent, he talked about the discrimination he is facing and his education aspiration.
TQM. How are your parents accepting you being a person with albinism?
I don’t have problem with my parents accepting me as a child, even though, l am a person with albinism.
TQM. How is your acceptance within the community of Daika?
I do associate with my community, but children, when they see me , they call me names and laugh at me, which can be quite embarrassing.
TQM. How easy is it for you to relate with your friends?
Those who are my friends, understand my nature and they do help me to relate well with other people. For example, if someone is waving hello to me and l do not see him or her because of my poor sight , these friends with me would tell me that, Mr. “A” Miss. “A” is waving hello to me from a certain direction, which l will respond on such notice.
TQM. How did you overcome your sight problem during your primary and secondary school days?
My teachers allowed me to take the front seat, where l can see the board better and when l don’t understand the writing well, especially the tinny writing, the teachers take time to dictate the word or words for me.
TQM. Have your rights ever been violated because you are a person with Albinism?
No.
TQM. What will be your appeal to the government and community?
My appeal to the government and the community is, l should be given a scholarship. We are three children with albinism in my family and our parents are the one paying for our education from the little income they are making from their small scale farming. Scholarship will really do us good.
TQM. What would you like to read at the University?
I would like to read Geography.
TQM. Coming from a family with three children, who are persons with albinism. How do members of your community see or treat your family?
If you spend your life or time paying attention to what people think or say of you or your family, you may not be happy in life, you may spend a good time of your life fighting people.
Our joy and peace as a family lays within us as a family not outside.
TQM. Thank you Mr. Bamshak. We in TQM wish you the very best in life.
Thank you.
