Vicky Ntetema facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vicky Ntetema
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| Born | (Catalan) Tanganyika Territory (now Tanzania)
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| Occupation | Journalist |
| Employer | BBC, UTSS |
| Known for | Reporting human rights abuses; human rights activism |
Vicky Ntetema (born around 1958) is a brave journalist from Tanzania. She became famous for telling the world about the terrible killings of people with albinism in her home country. Later, she became a leader at an organization called Under the Same Sun (UTSS) in Tanzania. This group works to protect the rights of people with albinism.
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Who is Vicky Ntetema?
Vicky Ntetema was born in Tanzania in 1958. She worked hard in school and even got a special scholarship from her government. This allowed her to study journalism in the Soviet Union, where she earned her Master's degree in 1985. She also studied in the UK, getting another degree in Information Systems Development in 1998.
In 1991, Vicky joined the BBC, a big news organization. She started as a radio presenter and producer for the Swahili language service in London. By 2006, she was a senior journalist and the main BBC reporter in Tanzania.
Vicky's Important Reporting
Vicky Ntetema became widely known in 2008. This was when she uncovered and reported on a very serious issue: the attacks and killings of people with albinism in Tanzania. Her reports helped bring this hidden problem to the world's attention.
After her time at the BBC, Vicky decided to focus even more on helping people with albinism. She became the Executive Director of Under the Same Sun (UTSS) in Tanzania. This is a Canadian charity that works to protect the human rights of people with albinism. Vicky worked there until she retired in May 2018.
Why are Vicky's Reports Important?
Vicky Ntetema did a secret investigation to learn more about the attacks on people with albinism. She found out that some people in Tanzania believed that persons with albinism were like ghosts. Some local witch doctors also wrongly thought that body parts from people with albinism could be used in magic charms to bring good luck.
Vicky's brave reports were the main reason the world started paying attention to this serious situation. Because of the dangers she faced, Vicky had to go into hiding. She needed protection all the time and even had to leave Tanzania twice to stay safe.
Awards for Her Courage
Vicky Ntetema's courage and important work have been recognized with several awards:
- In 2010, she received the Courage in Journalism Award from the International Women's Media Foundation.
- In 2013, she won the Tanzania Women of Achievement Award for her work in "Information and Communication."
- In 2016, the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, gave her the International Women of Courage Award. This award honors women around the world who show exceptional courage and leadership in fighting for human rights.
