Episode Description
Lea Kilenga has sickle cell disease, which causes daily pain and difficulties. But that didn't stop her from harassing Kenya's Head of Non-communicable Diseases via daily WhatsApp messages—until he started listening to her! In this episode, Lea shares with us how a girl from a small coastal village in Kenya, where 24% of the local population carries sickle cell, is persuading global health institutions, as well as her own government, to make sickle cell disease a health priority and ensure all patients have access to beautiful, fulfilling lives. Through her own painful and powerful life experiences, Lea illustrates what life is like for patients and the future she's creating for them, herself, and—she hopes one day—her own children.

Get Involved!
Learn more about Lea Kilenga's work and how you can support her to improve the lives of sickle cell patients here: justpeoples.org/leaders/lea

Why Give a Buck?
Because with $3,376 USD Lea can bring a community of stigmatised sickle cell patients out of marginalisation by providing medical knowledge, access to treatment and support groups, and dignity.

Meet Lea
Come along to an online fireside chat on 17 June, 2024 where Lea and Florence Namaganda, a Ugandan disability specialist, will discuss what able-bodied people can learn from people with disabilities and illnesses - how they survive in a world that rejects them and how they thrive when they're celebrated for the unique gifts they bring to humanity.

Episode Description
Florence Namaganda, Ugandan founder of Mukisa Foundation, shares her journey as a neuro-pediatric therapist and physiotherapist who first encountered children with disabilities on her first day at medical school, a moment that left a profound impact on her.

Christey and Johanna chat with Florence about her need to comprehend why these children with disabilities were segregated from mainstream society and how her investigations revealed a troubling reality: many parents believed their children's disabilities were the result of witchcraft, or punishment for wrongdoing.

Florence shares her passionate determination to change this narrative and how through Mukisa Foundation she has supported over 4,000 children living with disabilities across Uganda. She also discusses her wider vision of creating an inclusive society where people with disabilities can really thrive, starting within their families.

Get Involved!
Learn more about Florence's work and how you can support her to deliver holistic support to Ugandan children living with disabilities and their families by visiting justpeoples.org/leaders/florence

Why Give a Buck?
Because with $3,520 USD Florence can support 5 children living with disabilities with comprehensive medical care and nutritious food for a whole year. These kids and their families will join the safe and supportive community that Florence and her team have created at Mukisa Foundation. Children who need them will also be referred to specialists to receive assistive devices and corrective surgeries.

Meet Florence
Come along to an online fireside chat on 17 June, 2024 where Florence and Lea Kilenga, a Kenyan sickle cell patient and advocate, will discuss what able-bodied people can learn from people with disabilities and illnesses - how they survive in a world that rejects them and how they thrive when they're celebrated for the unique gifts they bring to humanity.

Episode Description
Jean Michel Habineza grew up in the wake of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, one of the gravest atrocities in recent human history, where almost overnight friends and neighbours became deadly enemies. Jean Michel is part of the movement to bring Rwanda back to a state of genuine, lasting peace. In this episode Jean Michel details the steps that can lead normal people to become capable of genocide, and how to reconcile former enemies when resentment and trauma levels are sky high. He also describes how to achieve peace through empowering people to debate the most contentious issues, without conflict. He is full of wisdom as well as practical advice that the world needs to hear right now; at the international level, between ethnic groups, and regular people trying to communicate with beloved family members with opposing opinions.

Get Involved!
Learn more about Jean Michel's work and how you can support him to promote critical thinking, and peaceful and healthy societies and families here: justpeoples.org/leaders/jean-michel

Why Give a Buck?
Because with $2,518 USD Jean Michel can educate a school of Rwandan high school students to debate tough topics without leading to conflict, and then implement projects to tackle local poverty-related issues.