Contestant 5
Ambila Pearl Jaja – Dance Educator
Age: 33
I was only ten when my world began to shake — not just from seizures, but from the silence and fear that followed them. I was diagnosed with epilepsy, and from that moment, life became a battlefield between my spirit, mind, body, my dreams, and the stigma that surrounded me.
Growing up, I learned that epilepsy wasn’t my only struggle — society’s perception of it was worse. People whispered, withdrew, and labeled me as cursed, contagious or fragile. I was often excluded from school activities, social gatherings, and sometimes even friendships, not because I wasn’t capable, but because people were afraid of what they didn’t understand – Epilepsy.
There were days I couldn’t access medication, nights filled with fear that another seizure could come when no one was there to help. I lived in constant uncertainty — but in that uncertainty, I found determination. I refused to let epilepsy dictate my destiny.
I decided that if my story could not be erased, then it would be rewritten — not as one of suffering, but of strength.
I turned my pain into a purpose that now speaks louder than my condition.
I began leading epilepsy awareness campaigns in schools and communities, especially during Children’s Day, creating safe spaces where children living with epilepsy could be seen, heard, and supported. I formed support groups that connect families, provide education, and promote access to medication and care. Each story shared became a spark of hope in a world clouded by ignorance.
Today, that spark has grown into something greater — “Pearl The Musical.”
A creative project born from my journey, it merges art and advocacy to educate communities, support families, and inspire those living with epilepsy to rise above shame. Through this musical, I am not only telling my story — I am telling our story: the story of resilience, courage, and transformation.
I am no longer the girl hiding from seizures; I am the woman standing on the frontline of change.
The girl I am — a warrior of hope.
The change I lead — turning stigma into strength.
And the crisis I confront — transforming silence into awareness, isolation into inclusion, and pain into purpose.
Because I believe every seizure survived is not just a sign of weakness overcome — it is proof of a strength the world must never ignore.