For the first time with support from the Canadian Cancer Society, women of the North Shore's Iranian community have a walking club just for them called: HOPE.
The walking club provides a safe, culturally appropriate social setting for Persian women to become more active and learn healthy living practices by trained female walk leaders.
Other goals of the program are to increase knowledge and uptake of the Canadian Cancer Society's programs and services and to increase knowledge amongst the Persian community of the benefits of being physically active, living tobacco free, healthy eating and safe sun practices.
Many participants are saying
"Thank you for HOPE!"
"Thank you for caring about the female Persian population."
"We are walking stronger and healthier now with HOPE."
"We appreciate the support and help. You care about our well-being. We HOPE no one gets cancer."
The program is promoted via word of mouth through the Persian population, flyers and face-to-face visits. Translation was somewhat of a challenge. Words of advice: "Working with different cultural groups takes time to build trust and relationships. Things have to be done to suit the culture not to suit our agendas," says Stacey Berisavac, Community Action Coordinator for the Canadian Cancer Society.
Partners involved include: North Vancouver Recreation Commission and North Shore Multicultural Society.