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Program Overview
The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Global Initiative for Breast Cancer Awareness is managed by the Institute of International Education (IIE) West Coast Center and implemented in collaboration with local partners in nine countries: Brazil, Costa Rica, Jordan, Mexico, Panama, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates.
Creating a dynamic global network
This ground-breaking initiative is creating 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. We accomplish this by:
- Empowering diverse stakeholders with the training, tools and support needed to influence strategic country-specific programming and funding decisions around breast cancer; and
- Strengthening individual and organizational capacity to launch effective education, awareness and advocacy campaigns that will increase early breast cancer detection and reduce mortality.
Training
During the pilot year of the project, IIE established strong partnerships with local leaders in breast health and identified, recruited and trained more than 600 women and men in 24 communities in the Course for the Cure™, a series of training modules that are based on Komen’s experience in breast cancer awareness and advocacy. The training modules cover five key topics: Community Assessment, Volunteer & Organization Development, Awareness & Education, Fundraising, and Advocacy. These modules are designed to be easily adaptable and customized to allow for unique local needs.
Participants represent a range of stakeholders, including health educators, NGO staff, midwives, religious leaders, nursing students, as well as business and government officials.
Community Profile and Strategic Plan Development
After each module, trainees participate in follow-up activities that put into practice the skills and best practices learned during the training. Equipped with assessment skills and tools, the network of participants carry out a breast health profile in their community. Using the information gathered through the community profile on key breast health qualitative and quantitative data, trainees design strategic goals to address the specific breast health gaps identified.
Steering Committee
The Global Initiative convenes national Steering Committees, comprised of key individuals who offer the program outstanding leadership and vision in the fight against breast cancer.
Phase II
In its second year, the Komen Global Initiative focuses on deepening and supporting the network of activists trained. Additional training workshops in each community are providing participants increased skills enhanced tools. A community grants program is empowering them to put their learning into action as they tackle the challenges impacting breast health identified in the first year.
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Training Modules
Course for the Cure™
The Course for the Cure™ 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.
Specific topics covered include:
- How to use qualitative and quantitative data to identify and prioritize community needs
- How to better understand the different segments of a community
- How to customize communication strategies to reach specific segments
- How to develop requirements for a successful strategic action plan to combat breast cancer
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.
Specific topics covered include:
- How to create an effective organizational structure for educational outreach
- How to develop an educational plan tailored to a community’s specific needs
- How to use outreach activities and events to share educational content
- How to analyze the effectiveness of an educational plan
- How to change an educational plan to match changing community needs
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.
Specific topics covered include:
- How to represent and promote a cause
- How to optimize efforts by identifying the power structures within your community
- How and when to work with other groups with shared interest
- How to leverage the media to publicize a cause
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.
Specific topics covered include:
- How to establish flagship programs and complement them with events and programs
- How to build and sustain long-term relationships with grantees
- How to work at the grassroots level to rally people around an issue
- How to use different fundraising styles to achieve program goals
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.
Specific topics covered include:
- How to identify which organizational needs can be filled by volunteers
- How to develop a recruiting message that is appealing to target audiences
- How to retain volunteers
- How to effectively engage private and public constituents to promote a cause
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