The New Times highlights the journey of Tracey Mutesi and her daughter, Geraldine Trada, whose personal experiences with diabetes led to the creation of the Geraldine Trada Foundation. After losing family members to diabetes and navigating Geraldine’s type 1 diagnosis at age 12, they committed themselves to supporting people living with the condition in Rwanda. The foundation delivers education and support through school outreach, awareness campaigns, and diabetes camps that equip children and caregivers with practical skills for daily management. Through community activities and World Diabetes Day events, their work promotes early detection, reduces stigma, and strengthens understanding and support for diabetes across communities in Rwanda.

The Geraldine Trada Foundation is being recognized for our work supporting people living with Type 1 Diabetes and their families in Rwanda. We’ve received funding from The T1D Community Fund, powered by Panorama Global, to help us launch two new projects: our T1D Camp and our School Outreach Programme.

We’re excited to join the global network of grantee partners creating a future where people living with type 1 diabetes can lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

Geraldine Trada Foundation marked World Diabetes Day at Muhima Hospital, raising awareness and support for children with Type 1 Diabetes. The event highlighted the struggles of diabetic students, especially in boarding schools with limited meal options, making blood sugar management difficult. Parents and children shared challenges like stigma, lack of diabetes-friendly school policies, and limited access to essential supplies. While community-based health insurance covers insulin syringes, other critical diabetes tools remain inaccessible. The event reinforced the need for greater awareness, policy support, and improved care for diabetic children in Rwanda.

Benigne Isabane shared his journey with Type 1 Diabetes at a World Diabetes Day event organised by the Geraldine Trada Foundation. He emphasised the importance of understanding diabetes as a lifelong condition that doesn't limit one's happiness. The event highlighted the significance of diabetes education and proper medication management. The foundation continues to support children with Type 1 Diabetes, providing medical care and family assistance. Medical experts at the event stressed the value of early diagnosis and ongoing support for better management of the condition.

On November 23, 2023, the Geraldine Trada Foundation organised a World Diabetes Day event in Rwanda to raise awareness about Type 1 Diabetes. The event focused on the importance of early diagnosis, proper medication, and eliminating stigma. Dr. Bernabe Shungu emphasized monitoring children with a family history of diabetes. The foundation, led by Tracey Trada Mutesi, continues to support children living with diabetes, especially from low-income families, helping them live well with the condition. Mutesi highlighted insulin's role in transforming Type 1 diabetes into a manageable condition.