In Liaison with Susan G. Komen and International Institute for Education (IIE)

The Global Initiative for Breast Cancer Awareness:

An estimated 25 million women around the world will be diagnosed with breast cancer over the next 25 years, and up to 10 million could die without a cure. Although breast cancer is a global disease, reaction and approach to its diagnosis and treatment vary greatly by a country’s cultural norms and economic means. Given that no single approach to breast health will prove effective around the world, local communities must implement innovative programs customized to best address local needs.

With this in mind, Susan G. Komen for the Cure^® launched the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Global Initiative for Breast Cancer Awareness. The Institute of International Education (IIE) designed and manages the Initiative through its West Coast Center in San Francisco, in collaboration with local partners in eight pilot countries: Brazil, Costa Rica, Jordan, Mexico, Romania, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine and United Arab Emirates.

The primary goal of the Initiative is to create a dynamic global network of dedicated activists with the skills, knowledge and vision to play a strategic role in shaping their country’s response to breast cancer.  This is being accomplished by (1) Empowering diverse stakeholders with the training, tools and support needed to influence strategic country-specific programming and funding decisions around breast cancer; and (2) strengthening individual and organizational capacity to launch effective education, awareness and advocacy campaigns that will increase early breast cancer detection and reduce mortality.

1. Course for the Cure^TM
   The Course for the Cure^TM training modules cover the core principles that have made Susan G. Komen for the Cure the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists. Each module illustrates how these principles can be customized and successfully applied to a variety of social, economic and cultural contexts. The five modules include:
   • Module 1: Community Profile Trainees gain the tools and knowledge to assess current breast cancer services, analyze key breast health needs, and identify gaps in education and services. Upon completion of this module trained participants are able to develop community profiles and action plans for their communities.
   • Module 2: Awareness & Education This module enables trainees to identify educational gaps that need to be targeted through awareness campaigns. It enhances trainees’ ability to share the latest breast health information and develop customized education strategies that more effectively reach out to different populations within their community.
   • Module 3: Advocacy Trainees gain the necessary tools to identify and fill the gaps in their advocacy strategy. Trainees learn to develop a plan for targeting key decision makers; build support among constituents; and how to follow-up with relevant feedback to demonstrate results.
   • Module 4: Fundraising This module trains participants to raise funds through grant writing, events and corporate sponsorship. Trainees learn to identify funding sources using assessment tools, determine the best approach, and follow-up with relevant feedback to demonstrate results.
   • Module 5: Volunteerism Participants learn how to create a network of people willing to work on behalf of others in the community to support the cause. Trainees learn to develop a plan, including how to define organizational structure and roles; recruit potential volunteers; screen and train volunteers; and motivate and retain volunteers.
   • If you are interested, please contact us
2. Abu Dhabi Community Profile
3. Pink Zones
   ”Zones” or areas in various organizations which agree to host them in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
   
   These zones are designed to allow a sense of privacy for women who visit. They will be received by a trained volunteer equipped with basic breast health knowledge. Women visiting these zones are encouraged to openly share their health concerns, their stories, worries or enquiries about breast cancer or other concerns which might trouble them. Basic facts about breast health and breast cancer will be openly discussed withthem as well as awareness on how to care for their health in general, emphasising on breast health. They will have the opportunity to learn how to conduct a Breast Self Exam (BSE) as well as identify the Health Care Providers closest to their residence.
   
   Through these zones, we learn from everyday women optimum methods to reach women in the community. We will be able to learn common misconceptions they have on breast cancer or other health issues with the advantage of correcting them.
   
   Finally, these zones will provide the chance for any and every woman to be referred to a health facilitor, book an appointment with a health facility where she can perform a Clinical Breast Exam (CBE) and mammography according to her age.
4. Community Educator Program
   A Community Outreach Program designed to train community educators to provide action plans such as home visits, follow up lectures and a tracking system to monitor progress in the three regions of Abu Dhabi.
   
   The Community Educator Program empowers participants to raise awareness about breast health and motivate healthy behavior (i.e. screening) among their peers in the community. The CEP forgoes more traditional lecture-style models of education in favor of more informal, flexible, and interactive information sharing. This allows the Community Educators to reach their peers and community members on their own terms, thus allowing broader access to people who may not be willing or able to take part in more formal education, or who might be missed through traditional forms of outreach.
   
   The CEP is one piece of a comprehensive outreach campaign, and is most effectively used in parallel with other awareness-raising and behavior change methods.
5. Qualitative Research and Development of Strategy
   This program will be conducted in the three regions of A.D. Survey tool and action plan will include extensive focus group and key informant interviews in an attempt to understand misconceptions and fears. Based on the survey results, relevant material will be designed to address issues such as fear and misconceptions.
6. Awareness DVD
   A DVD to be produced by interviewing survivors, co survivors, health care providers, religious clerks and celebrities to address issues related to breast cancer such as fear and misconceptions. It will be produced in Abu Dhabi.
7. Making it our Business
   The purpose of this program is to empower leading companies in the region with tools and knowledge to initiate innovative workplace awareness programs as part of their overall corporate social responsibility programs.