Our History

2018

 

Educational weekend camps:

Hosted 5 camps for 168 children (including a camp in Nelspruit in collaboration with the Mpumalanga Department of Health).

 

Youth leader training:

Sixteen Youth Leaders attended the YWD leadership camp at Camp Nelu (21-24 September 2018).

 

School programme:

Offered teacher training at 3 schools: Dyk Park Pre-Primary school (teachers and children); Boskop Primary School, Randburg (teachers); Transvalia School for Epileptics, (teachers and nursing staff).

 

Other initiatives:

  1. Family day and fundraising Fun Run at the Johannesburg Zoo (17 June 2018)
  2. Hosted a stand at the Annual Forum of Cardiovascular Diabetes Education (CDE) at Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre (3-5 August 2018). The theme for our stand year was “Targeting Blood Glucose” to emphasise the multiple factors that influence diabetes control, not only medication and dietary compliance.
  3. World Diabetes Day awareness
    • Launched a successful virtual campaign: Reached 7200 people
    • Attended a diabetes open day hosted by the practice of Dr Adri Kok (10 November 2018).
    • Attended a diabetes open/health day at The Sunward Park Hospital (20th October 2018).

These awareness days mainly focussed on the work of Youth With Diabetes and showed the community that diabetes education can be fun and creative.

  1. Media coverage:
    • SABC interview with the chairperson and members of Youth With Diabetes https://youtu.be/1EGTFjWmYmA
    • YWD Editorials in the Diabetes Lifestyle by Eileen Pringle: Suicide & Family Support
    • Youth with diabetes does the “D” word

2017

 

Educational weekend camps:

Hosted 5 camps for 150 children.

 

School programme:

A total of 124 teachers in 7 schools were trained on dealing with type 1 diabetes in the classroom, i.e Best Home Schooling, Mulbarton; Buccleuch Primary School, Bucchleuch; Arcon Primary school, Vereeniging; Bush hill Nursery school, Strydom Park; Helderkruin Primary School, Helderkruin; Casa do Sol School for Special Education, Linden; Kingsway School, Honeydew.

The YWD teacher’s training manual was provided to each person trained.

 

Other initiatives:

  1. Youth leaders assisted with a Christmas party at Thembisa hospital. They day was filled with fun and education on injection technique and managing hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia (7 December 2017).
  2. Hosted a stand at the Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology (CDE) Annual Forum at Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre (11-13 August 2017). We had an interactive body model to show how diabetes affects different organs and different emotions.
  3. World Diabetes Day awareness events:
  • Hosted a “Diabetes and Women” Workshop at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital to educate girls and young women about the effects of diabetes on pregnancy and how menstruation affects blood glucose (11 November 2017).
  • Assisted Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in raising funds for their diabetes clinics. The doctors at this hospital care for more than 800 people with Type 1 diabetes!
  • Trained 10 nurses from Mpumpalanga government hospitals (Temba, Nkangala, Tintwalso and Barberton Hospitals). We taught correct injection techniques, especially for thinner children that are using longer needles to avoid intramuscular injections as this affects insulin absorption. Also covered correcting hyperglycaemia with regular doses of Actrapid for the children to avoid diabetic ketoacidosis.
  • Joined the walk at the Nike Football Centre in Soweto (25 November 2017).
  1. Media coverage:

YWD Editorials in the Diabetes Lifestyle by Eileen Pringle:

  • The buddy system
  • The Reality
  • Sports
  • Oral Hygiene

2016

 

Educational weekend camps:

Hosted 5 camps for 207 children.

 

School programme:

A total of 124 teachers in 7 schools were trained on dealing with type 1 diabetes in the classroom. The YWD teacher’s training manual was provided to each person trained.

 

Other initiatives:

  1. Collaborated with Refilwe Bophelo Clinic to perform health screening for members of the township community of Kya Sands (18 November 2016). We screened blood glucose, blood pressure, HIV, retinopathy (eyes) and neuropathy (feet). Three Wits medical students also volunteered to assist with the screening. The YWD staff also addressed the children of Blair Athol Primary School during their assembly on Friday morning to raise awareness about diabetes and promote healthy life choices.
  2. Hosted a Christmas support group at Tembisa hospital for 30 Type 1 diabetes children seen at the hospital. The focus was on healthy eating, so children were provided healthy, affordable snacks, a lunchbox and a water bottle each. Since it was hosted on their clinic day, parents and carers were also involved.
  3. YWD Youth leaders attended a diabetes awareness day on 6 November 2016 at Rahima Moosa Hospital where we promoted the camps, helped answer parents’ questions about diabetes and gave out prizes for games played.
  4. Hosted a support day at Bounce in Midrand on 18 June 2017 where 50 children with type 1 diabetes were invited to a free play session at the indoor trampoline arena. We provided blood glucose testing and hypoglycaemic treatment during the event. This provided an opportunity for parents to interact with one another while their children played and had fun together with others who could relate themselves.
  5. Hosted a stand at the Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology (CDE) Annual Forum at Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre (29 – 31 July 2016). Health care practitioners shared thoughts on a “changing world” on sticky notes. The aim was to raise awareness the person behind the diabetes was often overlooked.
  6. YWD General Manager: Kerry Kalweit was an invited speaker at the Bongi-Ngema-Zuma Foundation Annual High Tea on 20 August 2016

 

Media coverage:

Full articles in Diabetes Lifestyle Magazine:

YWD Editorial in the Diabetes Lifestyle by Eileen Pringle:

  • Basics on “Carbs”
  • “Carb” Counting
  • More on “Carbs” and Portion sizes versus Serving Size
  • Diabetes Rights Day and Easter “Carb Counting”

2015

 

Educational weekend camps:

Hosted 9 camps for 250 children (including our first ever teen camp in Cape Town).

Botswana runs their camps independently after YWD mentored their leaders and staff. They hosted two camps this year with the help of the Youth leaders trained by YWD.

 

Youth leader training:

We offered a 10-day training workshop in South Africa for delegates from Ghana, Gambia, Togo, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia. Each country sent one IDF African Young Leader and one healthcare professional from their related IDF Member Association to participate (18 – 27 September 2015). Topics addressed included Camp logistics, Diabetes education, Psychosocial aspects of diabetes, Project management, and Clinical focus. Delegates received a manual titled “African Camp Manual”, which was a collaboration of content by YWD, Life For A Child (Australia) and the Diabetes Education and Camping Association (USA). Delegates also attended a 3-day camp of YWD for children aged 7-13.

As a result of this training, an educational event was hosted in each of the 6 countries. Attended by 132 children and 125 parents/caregivers. A camp was also hosted in each country, attended by a total of 196 children.

This project was funded by the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF). Click here for more information.

 

School programme:

Forty (40) schools were visited and about 800 teachers were taught how to manage diabetes if they had a child in their class. Each teacher was left with the YWD booklet to keep in the classroom in case they needed to refer to it if they were dealing with emergency procedures. The feedback from teachers was very positive and they felt less afraid of determining or handling high or low blood glucose levels in the children. They were given contact numbers to call if they were struggling at any particular point so that any diabetes related problem could be resolved as quickly as possible.

 

Other initiatives:

1. Support days or educational events:

Jewish day camp where Martin Salkow shared his inspirational story, and we covered various educational, dietary and exercise protocols. The highlight of the day was by a local Rabbi (also living with Type 1) discussing the management of diabetes during religious holidays.

YWD Chairperson received a grant and sponsorship to attend an international ADA conference in Boston US. She also visited the Joslin Clinic with the main focus on how they manage youth with diabetes and hosting camps and visited the Elliot Joslin Camp to learn from the camp co-ordinator how they run camps. She also attended an ADA camp in Philadelphia for 4 days to observe how they host their camps.

2. World Diabetes Day awareness events:

Supported Project Hope by entertaining the youth with face painting and small competitions at the diabetes awareness day in Zandspruit

Lend support to the nursing sister who looks after youth in Marang house.

Hosted a stand at the Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology (CDE) Annual Forum at Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre and our “Mad Hatters” theme, illustrated the complexity of diabetes management.

3. Media coverage:

Full articles in Diabetes Lifestyle Magazine:

  • Lack of access to diabetes resources in Africa – by Kerry Kalweit
  • Youth With Diabetes Invests in the Future – by Hester Davel

YWD Editorials in the Diabetes Lifestyle by Eileen Pringle:

  • Diabetes and Social Support
  • Chalk Talk on Diabetes and a Day at School
  • How to Manage Diabetes When Illness Strikes
  • Signs and symptoms of diabetes

2014

 

Educational weekend camps:

Hosted 9 camps for 379 children (including Botswana and Namibia).

 

Youth leader training:

Implemented a new revamped leadership training camp.

46 Youth Leaders attended the YWD leadership camp at Achterbergh Camp and Conference Centre in Krugersdorp (10 – 14 July 2014).

 

School programme:

Offered teacher training at five schools in Gauteng.

 

Other initiatives:

  1. Hosted an elegant breakfast for mothers of children with diabetes on 30 August 2014 in Johannesburg. A total of 60 moms were given the opportunity to share their challenges and build their personal network of support. We had the support of our sponsors who set up tables at the venue to answer questions about their products and/or services.
  2. Organised and facilitated a diabetes educational day at The Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital on 30 August 2014 for 20 children and their families. Children were educated specifically on hypo- and hyperglycaemia and participated in fun activities with a free lunch.
  3. Hosted a stand at the Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology (CDE) Annual Forum at Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre (8-10 August 2014). We supplied general information about our camps; displayed new educational material; offered low-carb cupcakes that delegates could decorate as an interactive activity; hosted a raffle with the prize of a unique painting created by one of our members; and networked with other industry partners.
  4. Served at a diabetes health day hosted by Netcare Union Hospital in Alberton on 8 November 2014.
  5. Hosted a “Go Blue for Breakfast” campaign in November 2014 in support of the IDF’s World Diabetes Day theme. YWD Facebook members were encouraged to include a blue item in their healthy breakfast and upload a photo of this with the carbohydrate count to our group.
  6. Attended the diabetes awareness event hosted at the CDE in Houghton, Johannesburg on 14 November 2014.
  7. Media coverage by SABC 2, PowerFM and eNCA.

2013

 

YWD hosted a total of 8 camps this year for 339 children. This year we had our first camp in Windhoek, Namibia! We again hosted a support day for mothers of children with diabetes for 60 moms in Johannesburg. We also designed a comprehensive teacher’s training manual on dealing with diabetes in the classroom that was available in January 2014. YWD had a stand at the annual Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology Forum in August to promote our camps and services.

 

Our general manager, Kerry Kalweit, represented South Africa in the Young Leaders in Diabetes program hosted by the International Diabetes Federation in Melbourne, Australia.

2012

 

YWD hosted a total of 9 camps this year for 297 children.

 

A research project was initiated to evaluate the psychosocial impact of diabetes on the children. A support day was held for mothers of children with diabetes for 40 moms in Johannesburg.

2011

 

Youth With Diabetes acquired 4 new regions in 2011 for camps, namely Cape Town, Kimberley, Port Elizabeth and Kwazulu Natal. A total of 11 camps were offered for 283 children.

 

YWD presented academic research on the benefits of the Youth Leadership training at the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) conference in Dubai during December.

2010

 

The need to grow YWD and get a bigger support network was the main focus. DYL training was our main focus and to get this established a national training camp was held. Leaders were trained on project management and are in the process of registering projects to implement in their regions for YWD.

 

We also offered camps in Gauteng, Botswana, Bloemfontein, George, and East London. Once again our camps are getting bigger and reaching youngsters from all over South Africa and Africa.

 

The school project also became bigger and a play was presented at different schools in Gauteng and teacher training was done at a few schools. These sessions were all done by the young adults with diabetes – with the help of health professionals.

 

We also assisted DSA in Gauteng and Cape Town with their global walk on World Diabetes Day. We also gained some exposure through public speaking in Gauteng at different occasions, regarding World Diabetes Month.

2009

 

We started the year with another Diabetes Youth Leader (DYL) national training and was interview by SABC 2 “Blue Couch” and Morning Live. This year we started to get much more media coverage. Sandiso also spoke on 3Talk. In World Diabetes Month, Gareth and Hester was invited to talk on different radio stations. Gareth was also interviewed by Love Life magazine and wrote an article. Some of the leaders were also involved in the show “Whip the chef” – covering diabetes.

 

This year our camps got bigger and were held in different provinces. Our biggest camps where up to 75 kids from all different parts of the world. We hosted 8 camps in total.

 

Our first family event was a picnic at the Johannesburg Zoo and this included youth with diabetes from all the age groups.

 

School projects started with the main focus on talking to the teachers about diabetes. The target was the teachers of children from the age groups pre-school and primary school.

 

We also assisted in several open days and health days on World Diabetes Month, helping with awareness.

 

We were also involved in two national conferences by presenting and having a stand.

2008

 

This was our biggest and most successful year in YWD. We did 4 camps in Gauteng, 1 each in Bloemfontein, East London, George and Botswana.
This year we participate in 2 international conferences and another CDE conference as well as a NOD (Nurses On Diabetes) which included manning the exhibition stand and giving presentations on diabetes.

 

At the ISPAD conference in Durban we did a Youth Leader Training for 20 young adults from all over Africa.

 

This was our biggest and most successful year in YWD. We did 4 camps in Gauteng, 1 each in Bloemfontein, East London, George and Botswana.
This year we participate in 2 international conferences and another CDE conference as well as a NOD (Nurses On Diabetes) which included manning the exhibition stand and giving presentations on diabetes.

 

At the ISPAD conference in Durban we did a Youth Leader Training for 20 young adults from all over Africa.

 

The Youth Committee of YWD also got diabetes to be added on the LSEN documents at schools. Being in matric they realised that there is no help for them if they experience problems and will not be granted extra time in exams. They negotiated with the Department of Health and got it approved and on the list.

 

This was also our first year that civvies days in schools was implemented and corporates were invited to join. The fee was R5 per sticker. This was very successful and the big focus was on raising funds for Dr. Segal and Paniotti (a 9 year old type 1 diabetic) to run in the New york marathon “Kids Chain for Diabetes”. We raised the money but unfortunately the marathon was canceled and the money had to be returned to the sponsors.

2007

 

We started planning YWD, raised awareness and planned golf days for fund raising. We decided on a name and got our logo finalised. With the help of Charl Oosthuizen we got YWD registered as a Non-profit Organisation (NPO). The organisation was established specially for youth because of the lack of services and support available for youth.

 

This was also the first year that YWD was invited to speak at an annual CDE forum – a conference attended by all health professional in the field of diabetes. We planned a big golf day to raise money and CDE also sponsored a dinner to help raising funds. Unfortunately the legislation changed, no pharmaceutical company could participate in golf days, our big event was cancelled and the money been pledged to us, not received.

 

This set-back did not prevent us from going ahead and we still held 4 very successful camps in this year. Our 2nd Diabetes Youth leader training was offered, but this time in the different provinces. This helped saving costs and we could do bigger groups.

 

The committee members went to Johannesburg General Hospital in this year to motivate the youth and get a feeling for what they need, to help them with their planning and how to improve their lives “living with diabetes”. There was a need for some identification owned by YWD for person with diabetes and their supporters and YWD wrist bands where designed.

2006

 

First National Leaders Training was held for 40 motivated youngsters. After this we hosted 3 camps in that year with the help of these Youth Leaders.

 

The motivated young leaders decided to form a group that will do something for youth with diabetes, because there was no organisation or real support group for youth with diabetes in SA. They met frequently and started to plan something with a bigger dream. They decided on the name “for youth with diabetes – let’s inject our influence in diabetes”. Martin Salkow was given the title of Youth Ambassador for South Africa and we decided to invite him to be part of our team.

2005

 

First teenager camp was held. We saw the need for people to help us on these youth camps to run it more often and in a safe manner. We realised: who better than their peers? So we developed a course: Diabetes Youth Leader Training.

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