I want my children to have a different future. That’s why I fight - Sandra Valdovino Cantillo

In the suburbs of Barranquilla, Colombia, Sandra Valdovino Cantillo has lived her entire life in the same house, surrounded by family, tradition, and the rhythms of daily life. For 37 years, her home has been a hub of activity—where she cooks and sells lunches to neighbours, supports her children, and keeps the household running with the help of her mother.

But Sandra’s journey took a turn eleven years ago, when, while pregnant with her son Joshua, she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes . “I didn’t know anything about blood sugar or diabetes,” Sandra recalls. “I was scared. You hear ‘diabetes’ and you worry. I thought, ‘You have to take better care of yourself and be careful with what you eat.’”

Home is the first clinic

Sandra’s story is emblematic of the impact of the WDF-supported projects with Fundación Vida Nueva, which have been transforming maternal and child health in Colombia. Through regular home visits, community health workers like Lucila Cárdenas became lifelines for Sandra and many other women. “The foundation visited me at home, explained everything, and helped me change my diet and lifestyle. Now, I pay more attention to my children’s health, and I want them to have a better future,” Sandra shares.

Recipes for better days

For Sandra, caring for her family means more than providing lunch, it’s about weaving healthy habits into the fabric of daily life. She ensures her son Joshua eats healthily and stays active—he plays football and has even won a championship. “I pay more attention to him. If I see something related to diabetes, I take him to the doctor right away. I tell him, ‘When I was pregnant with you, I had gestational diabetes . You never know, you have to watch out.’”

Sandra dreams of a future where her children are professionals, fulfilled, and free from the hardships she has faced. “I want us to have a different lifestyle. A different home, more comfortable. I want them to be good kids, polite, well-behaved. I want them to make me proud. That’s what makes me proud. I want to have the strength to give my children whatever they need.”

Habits that travel next door

The impact of of the project extends beyond the household. Sandra’s story highlights how knowledge and support can have a ripple effect. Healthy habits can be contagious, as she shares healthy habits with their children and neighbours, Sandra is laying the foundation for healthy families, communities, and futures. “That’s why I fight. So I can move forward with them.”

Sandra Valdovino Cantillo participated in one of the projects led by Fundación Vida Nueva (FVN). Since 2011, FVN, with support from the World Diabetes Foundation, has been at the forefront of integrating NCD prevention—particularly targeting GDM—into maternal and child health services.