Juania Auguste first met Know The Glow’s Program Manager for Africa, Ruth Ngaruiya, and Global Student Ambassador, Pemije Gadimoh, at the COECSA conference in Ethiopia this year. She had participated in the RB Challenge, creating a video in French, and her enthusiasm and commitment immediately impressed Ruth and Pemije. This inspired them to introduce her to KnowTheGlow Co-Founder, Megan Webber, and Director of Global Outreach, Helene Dameris.
An ophthalmic nurse from Haiti, Juania’s journey into eye care is deeply personal. Her story mirrors Megan Webber’s in some ways. When Juania’s younger sister developed amblyopia, a condition that could have been treated with early detection. We went to the hospital when she was five years old,” Juania recalled. “By the time it was identified, it was too late to correct.”That experience shaped her commitment to advocate for children and families who may not have a voice.
This commitment forms the core of her work. In Haiti, Juania operates on multiple fronts; working in the operating room since 2020 on cataract and glaucoma cases, conducting vision screenings for children in schools, and distributing free glasses to those in need.
Since October 2025, she has been training nurses through a four-month certification program in ophthalmology. At the end of the program, participants receive a certificate, and Juania hopes this new pathway will help expand Haiti’s eye care workforce. Teaching brings her joy, and she approaches it with the same dedication she brings to patient care.
Her advocacy has also gained international recognition. Named a Young Systems Leader by the IAPB and honored by Women in Eye Health, Juania was supported to attend the COECSA conference in Ethiopia. The experience allowed her to connect with peers and learn from global leaders, strengthening relationships she continues to build in her work.
Collaboration is central to her career path vision. Working closely with Dr. Yamilée Cherubin, Juania is planning a major pediatric eye health event in Haiti. This is an ambitious initiative in a country where security and governmental instability have often slowed progress. “We want to create an event to bring education to more people,” she said. She also hopes to attend the IAPB conference in Nairobi in 2026, and to continue to build networks that can drive meaningful change.
For Juania, the mission is deeply personal. She believes in using her voice to bring attention to unmet needs and create change where gaps exist. Through education, screening, training, and advocacy, she continues to empower communities. Her creative social media content in French and Creole helps spread awareness and practical knowledge to families who may otherwise have limited access to eye health information.
Through a combination of clinical skill, educational passion, and advocacy, Juania Auguste is doing more than caring for eyes in Haiti. She is making a difference in her community, reaching children and training nurses along the way.
Know The Glow looks forward to supporting her efforts by providing awareness materials in Creole that Juania and her colleagues can use to share the glow message with their community. Together, we hope to find and direct to care, more Haitian children in time.
