The Gertler Family Foundation Supports the Launch of White Ebony Ahead of UN-Adopted International Albinism Awareness Day

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo, June 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

White Ebony  is a ground-breaking book by Patricia Willocq being launched today in Brussels at Halles-St. Gery 

The Gertler Family Foundation (GFF) is pleased to support the launch of the book White Ebony / Blanc Ebène by Patricia Willocq. The book, which is being launched today in Brussels, will showcase photography of people afflicted with ‎albinism in Africa and particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)‬, with the aim of raising public awareness about the discrimination and marginalisation of albinos in the DRC and neighbouring countries.

A press conference will also be held today in Brussels at Halles-St. Gery to announce the opening of the photo exhibition "White Ebony" on 13 June to celebrate the first International Albinism Awareness Day. The exhibition will run through to 27 July 2015 and will also be held at Halles-St. Gery.

The GFF's support for White Ebony book follows on a number of social initiatives the GFF has promoted which aim to help the most vulnerable segments of the Congolese population. In 2014 GFF sponsored the Project Blanc Ebene, where the GFF partnered with the prominent Mwimba Texas Foundation and helped bring greater awareness about social and medical services to Congolese albinos. Later that year, one hundred Congolese albino children received free photochromic eyeglasses from Hôpital du Cinquantenaire de Kisangani -another GFF project- to improve the children's sight, and their reading and writing.

Dan Gertler, Co-Founder of GFF, said: "We are honoured to have supported this cause for many years, of which too little is known about. Though the Congo has shown encouraging signs in how it treats its albino population, many of them face persecution and physical harm. Patricia's book is not only visually powerful, but is a bold step in educating the public about this issue. The GFF has committed itself to supporting albinos in the DRC for many years, whether through arts, music, or health, and we are proud to support the efforts of Patricia and others in their aims to restore the dignity of the albino community."

Notes to editors:

Patricia Willocq is a freelance photographer born in the Congo. Amongst the assignments around the world, she dedicates time to support the work of associations and NGOs fighting in the field of human rights. White Ebony won an honourable mention at the UNICEF Photo of the Year Award 2013 and has been exhibited by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Mr. Dan Gertler is a co-founder of the GFF. An initiative of the Gertler Family Trust, the GFF is committed to helping meet the needs of vulnerable Congolese. Since its inception in 2004, the GFF has invested millions of dollars in health, education, agriculture, emergency relief, infrastructure, culture and other projects across the DRC.

Please send media inquiries to media@gertlerfamilyfoundation.org    

Visit http://www.gertlerfamilyfoundation.org to learn more about the GFF. Join us on Facebook: Gertler Family Foundation, and follow us on Twitter @gffdrc.

To learn more about the 'White Ebony' project, please visit: http://white-ebony.com/ or call +44(0)20-7379-5151