WanderSafe is proud to announce that Founder and CEO, Stephenie Rodriguez, has been officially recognized as a Changemaker by The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
In September 2019, while traveling on business, Stephenie contracted cerebral malaria—an extremely severe and often fatal complication of the disease. Following weeks in a coma and years of recovery that included 47 surgical procedures and becoming Australia's first bilateral osseointegrated female amputee, Stephenie has channeled her survival into a powerful mission for global health.
Turning Survival into Advocacy
“Surviving cerebral malaria was the hardest battle of my life, but it clarified my purpose,” Stephenie shared. “My goal is not only to prevent violence through the WanderSafe ecosystem, but to use my voice to eradicate the disease that nearly took my life.”
As a Global Fund Changemaker, Stephenie will work to secure resources and raise awareness for malaria eradication programs worldwide, representing the voices of survivors and highlighting the ongoing need for international funding.
The WanderSafe Mission
Stephenie's personal resilience deeply informs WanderSafe’s overarching goal: to impact a billion lives by 2025 by democratizing personal safety. Whether combating preventable diseases or preventing gender-based violence with the WanderSafe app and Beacon devices, the mission remains rooted in protecting the vulnerable.
Sources: The Global Fund. "Our Champions: Stephenie Rodriguez." TheGlobalFund.org*, 2024. Channel 10 Australia. "Interview: Stephenie Rodriguez - WanderSafe CEO." YouTube*, 2022.
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