Social support is very important for improving health and chances of survival of women with breast cancer. Practicing mindfulness results in significant decreases in pre-to-post stress and state anxiety levels, beneficial changes for mental adjustment to cancer and health locus of control. Our goal is to include women survivors of breast cancer and families from rural parts and islands in an online community. Our main activities are online live mindfulness workshops.

Project idea will take place in Primorje and Gorski Kotar County, Croatia.

NGO Nada is providing support for the women survivors in the city of Rijeka. Our main challenge is geographical separation and low mobility of population living in rural parts and on the islands. Due to their geographical position, women and families living in these parts of region are not able to participate in our supportive programs. They are less included in a community of women survivors and rarely participate in activities from which they would benefit. Cancer survivors are in need of long-term psychosocial support and we are the only NGO providing that. By building online community we are overcoming geographical barriers.

Program includes women with diagnose and survivors of breast cancer and their faimilies. Faced with your own mortality and existencial questions about meaning of life, virtual reality of democracy is present only by it's concenquences: functioning of healthcare and social system, and NGOs that are providing support. This community full of diversity gathered to give support to each other, and to make change in systems of society which affect their lives the most, is guided with just one thought- to live healthy and in love. All differences are welcomed with joy of learning and personal growth. Mindfulness training will provide space for dialogue, compassion and increase personal responsibility to make a difference in society.

Program includes weekly live online mindfulness workshops with recorded guided practice for home practice and online psychological support.
Program has four stages
1. PREPARATION AND PROMOTION
Step1. Planning
Step2. Researching and creating content of mindfulness workshops
Step3. Technical preparation (recording of audio practices and choosing the platform for online workshops)
Step4. Promotional campaign
Step5. Introductory workshops in local communities
Step7. Planning schedule for workshops with applicants
2. IMPLEMENTATION
Step8. Conducting weekly online workshops and sharing recorded practices
Step9. Conducting individual online psychological support
3. EVALUATION
Step10. Self- rating check list of well-being
Step11. Check list for evaluating the program
4. REPORT

We are expecting women and their families from rural parts and islands to be included, as well as women from Rijeka.
We are expecting that this program will benefit their health, resilience and improve well-being according to suggested research findings. We are hoping to build up a trust in a community that takes care of their members and to increase engagement in active citizenship projects that affect their local community.

We think it's important for women survivors of breast cancer and their families to know their rights in social and healthcare systems, and to be involved in discussions that affect their life. NGO Nada is the only community of women survivors in our county. Our team is working with hospitals and local goverment, medical schools, faculties and volunteers. Active citizenship is a way to make an impact and by making this diverse community virtual and inclusive we are returning faith in democratic principles that you can make change in your community and that the community respects your human rights without discrimination. Family is a foundation of society and society needs to support family systems to play a protective role in the process of healing its member.

During 2020. we did mindfulness workshops and all the members gave positive evaluations. During the quarantine, due to coronavirus, we engaged in live online mindfulness resilience building program with our members from Rijeka. Seeing online workshops as a way to reach to the women in the islands and rural parts to give them long-term support and opportunity to participate in our activities alongside other women. We decided to apply for this funding to get support in realization of this idea.

Office expenses 3000 EUR
Licence for online platform 1500 EUR
Promotional campaign 2000 EUR
Travel and accommodation 1500 EUR
Recording equipment 2000 EUR
Personnel costs 39 400 EUR

We would like for you to give us feedback about our idea and to hear your experience if you have implemented similar idea in your community. It would be interesting for us to develop this idea together. We are welcoming all people and organisations for cooperation with us.