MEET THE FOUNDER 

Ms. Efa Ahmed-Williams (3rd from the right) is an adult living with sickle cell disease and the founder and director of Destiny Despite Diagnosis "Youth Living Richly Despite Chronic Illness".   Destiny is a community organization, dedicated to enhancing the lives of youth that suffer from chronic illnesses.

The organization grew from its first transition program Destiny Despite Sickle Cell Disease which started in 2008. Efa created the Destiny Despite Sickle Cell Disease transition program to help youth with sickle cell anemia learn to care for themselves and envision and realize the infinite possibilities for their life.  As an adult living with sickle cell disease, she understands the importance of “living richly despite chronic illness”. 

She has worked in youth programming and development for most of her life. She was selected as a 2009 Open Society Institute-Baltimore Fellow for her Destiny Despite Sickle Cell Disease program.