Projects

Breast Cancer Education Project for Immigrant & Refugee Women

What is the Breast Cancer Education Project?
The Breast Cancer Education Project applies theatre and popular education to promote breast cancer awareness and early detection to immigrant and refugee women. This initiative was developed by the Working Women Community Centre and is generously funded by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Ontario Chapter.

History of the Project
Research has shown that immigrant women are the least likely group of women to access breast screening and breast cancer services. They face many barriers, both cultural and sociological, including language, stigma, isolation and lack of information. The Breast Cancer Education Project was developed in 2003 to address this disparity and raise awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early detection for this population.

Tomorrow's Time - Phase 1 of the Project
In the first phase of this project the play, Tomorrow's Time, was developed. This was based on theatre workshops, interviews, stories and early detection messages that were weaved together from immigrant breast cancer survivors, community workers, and healthcare providers. Theatre proved to be a powerful vehicle to communicate these important issues in a way that was both accessible and innovative to newcomers. Tomorrow's Time has toured across the Greater Toronto Area to over 2400 newcomers through ESL and LINC classes, in partnership with the Toronto District School Board.

Tomorrow's Time is a 50-minute play that follows the caring relationships of five immigrant women as they face the frightening possibility that they or someone close to them has breast cancer. Together they confront the cultural myths and stigma that surround breast cancer and the barriers to screening that newcomer women face. The play reflects the challenges of being a new immigrant and ultimately speaks to all women asking them to take the time to prioritize their own health.

The five original cast members are all immigrants to Canada who have been affected by breast cancer in some way. These remarkable women had no formal acting experience and volunteered their time generously.

To browse through a selection of articles from The Toronto Star and from other sources on this project, please visit our Articles page.

The Take Time for Breast Health Workshop - Phase 2 of the Project
The Take Time for Breast Health Workshop is the second phase of the Breast Cancer Education Project. It is a collaboration between the Working Women Community Centre and Toronto Public Health with continued funding from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. The project has been made more mobile to reach smaller groups of newcomer women who may not attend English language classes, or who may feel more comfortable discussing these important issues in a more intimate environment. The Breast Health Workshop incorporates the educational DVD of Tomorrow's Time as a forum for discussion, education and empowerment. It has been designed to meet the specific needs of newcomer populations and will fully engage participants in active learning. The project trains immigrant women from a variety of ethnic backgrounds to be peer educators and lead breast health workshops in their own communities.

For detailed information on the workshops, please visit our News page.

The Future of the Project
This health promotion project will also be used to create a dialogue with healthcare professionals in an effort to raise awareness about cultural sensitivity and the barriers that immigrant women face to accessing equal health care. For more information on this project please contact Lucy Frankel at (416) 532-2824 Ext. 33.

Freedom from Violence through Education

The project addresses the large pocket of immigrant women who do not access services through a traditional service model. The project attempts to reach those immigrant women who are dealing with issues, particularly those of violence and abuse. Many women do have some discussion with their peers that may reveal issues of violence and abuse, however, do not seek out further support. This project provides an innovative approach to transmitting vital information on resources and support. Community members are trained to provide effective and appropriate referral at community access points such as hair salons, grocery stores, and other work places. Our hope is that when issues of violence are identified, people at the access points will refer women to community agencies that can help with anti-violence information and counselling.