Breast Cancer Awareness Month Activities and Final “Pink October” Event - WFWP Latin America
Written by: Roswitha Dueck de Giuliano
In September 2022 WFWP Latin America started a breast cancer awareness campaign called “Towards Pink October.” This campaign concluded on October 26 with a zoom conference for all of Latin America, organized by WFWP and the International Association of First Ladies for Peace (IAFLP) from Latin America and the Caribbean. Several countries in Latin America joined this campaign and it opened many doors to introduce WFWP to other NGOs, universities, hospitals, and other institutions. Through this event, WFWP Latin America was able to relate and empathize with many women who have experienced breast cancer and provide them with a network of support and care.
WFWP Brazil started this campaign on a national level several years ago and this year they expanded to other countries. They worked with several breast cancer awareness groups and NGOs, some of whom are Peace Ambassadors. They made wigs, hats, and many other items for breast cancer patients. In Peru, Argentina, Panama, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, the volunteers went to parks and streets to distribute pamphlets about Pink October.
Many Latin American countries such as Paraguay, Bolivia, Panama and Nicaragua held conferences with medical doctors and psychologists as guest speakers in universities and other institutions. Many Zoom conferences on breast cancer awareness were conducted during these months and several walks were organized. WFWP Paraguay made Pink October the theme for Peace Road 2022. In October of 2022, WFWP and IAFLP, Latin America held the official Zoom event where a video about the activities was presented, and over 650 women participated. First Ladies, deputies, and NGO leaders were the guest speakers.
Mrs. Andrea Fernandez Bevans from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints offered the opening prayer. Mrs. Celia Zaduski, Vice President of WFWP Brazil, who was the mentor behind this project, gave the welcoming words. After that, a very touching testimony was given by the Director of WFWP of Easter Island, Chile, Mrs. Rozimeire Ika, who shared how she was diagnosed with and overcame breast cancer.
WFWP Latin America invited Dr. Sun Jin Moon, Senior Vice President of WFWP International, to give the keynote speech at the event. She reminded the audience that we are all called as one family to love, care, nurture, shed light, bring awareness and healing and prevent this grave threat to our sisters, grandmothers, mothers, daughters, aunts, nieces, and friends.
The current First Lady of Uruguay, Mrs. Lorena Ponce de León, gave a message and expressed her support for WFWP and this campaign. The former First Lady and senator of Paraguay, Mrs. Emilia Alfaro de Franco, said that “we can work towards preventing cancer through psychological and physical care of ourselves.”
Deputy Dalia Bernal from Panama talked about Panama's activities, including a health clinic for cancer prevention. Deputy Elsa Capillera from Uruguay said that “we women have this great burden but we always get the necessary strength to face it.”
The Peace Ambassadors, Mrs. Simone Braga and Mrs. Tania Gomez, from Brazil, presented their great activities during their many years of supporting breast cancer patients and prevention. Mrs. Gomez said: “Alone we are invisible, together we are invincible!”
Family lawyer, Leia Rojas from Peru, said “we are here to support life, a healthy life.”
Mrs. Cui Yulan, President of WFWP Brazil, and Mrs. Roswitha Giuliano, International Vice President of WFWP Latin America and Caribbean, gave the closing remarks thanking everyone for their efforts during the months of the Pink October campaign.
