Juliana Auma is the, founder of SHAK- Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Kenya, Secretary General 2015-2021 and National Coordinator (2020-2021). She is responsible for all SHAK advocacy and capacity building activities in Kenya. SHAK is a lobby and advocacy DPO that provides capacity building to families of children with Spina Bifida and or Hydrocephalus while advocating for primary prevention of these neural tubal defects through food fortification and proper nutrition.
Prior to her work at SHAK Juliana was a volunteer with the Bethany Kids at Kijabe Hospital in developing programs for disability awareness and inclusion in churches as well as the International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus where she focused on building capacity of fellow parents and youth leaving in 2019 where she worked directly with RHF from 2020 till July 2021 and is currently working for ChildHelp International.
Juliana also worked as a partner with GAIN on advocacy on food fortification where her experience as a mother to a child born with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus resonated with the fact that lack of sufficient levels of folic acid can have major negative impacts in the life of the unborn child.
Juliana took herself back to high school after taking care of her daughter for ten years. She sold earrings which she makes and saved enough money to pay for her high school fees. She has a Diploma in Project Management and Community Development from the Nairobi Baptist Centre Community College and hopes to one day earn a Degree in Project Management. She loves making dresses and ornaments during her free time and is a mother of two.