Episode 47: Braving the Way of Hope

One person can change the world @td1_star On this episode you will be enlightened, enriched and receive the gift that is Justat Kajuju. Justar is from and lives in Kenya. She was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes 7 years ago. Her dad has lived with diabetes for over 20 years. Justat wants to help impact young people and give them hope on living with Diabetes. Justat is a researcher in diabetes and a passionate Diabetes Advocate and Founder of DiaHope Africa, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals living with and at risk of diabetes. Through DiaHope Africa, she leads initiatives focused on diabetes education, awareness, and access to essential healthcare services. She has participated in Dedoc Voices in Berlin ,Lisbon and is a proud member of the Young Leaders in Diabetes program under the International Diabetes Federation. DiaHope - organization gets in touch with young people living with diabetes and their teachers to help share what it is living with diabetes. Her main journey is making education available for everyone. During her diagnosis her medical practitioner said some very unkind words like, you're supposed to be dead, you're supposed to be in the morgue, and this affected Justar tremendously and from that moment she wanted people living with a health condition to know not to allow these words to affect their push to better themselves. After interacting with many young people in Kenya she realizes that people are getting the wrong info and they perceive things differently due to accessing supplies being very difficult. Justat reiterates how it takes a lot to convince people that they won't be judged due to their diabetes and that it is ok to be filmed and take pictures and show that you have diabetes. Per Justat, It's important to address education and access to insulin first. Diabetes should not deprive anyone the privileges that everyone else has.