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La
Femme
Africaine-
The African Woman (LFA)
La Femme Africaine Inc. (LFA) is a non-profit (501) (c) (3)
corporation, based and incorporated in Atlanta, Georgia (June 2006).
The organization is currently expanding its footprint in Lagos,
Nigeria, and looking to establish itself as a reputable Non-Government
Organization (NGO). We are committed to promoting women's health and
well being by educating and empowering underprivileged and less
informed women on preventive health measures, and maintaining healthy
lifestyle choices - with a strong focus on fostering Breast Cancer
Awareness.
We are located in Norcross, Georgia - our geographical service areas
include Gwinnett, Fulton, DeKalb and Cobb counties, which have high
immigrant populations. As global migration grows, immigrant women shift
geographic locations with their existing beliefs, and lack of awareness
on diseases such as breast cancer. This apparent “blissful” ignorance
often leads to unnecessary degenerative battles with breast cancer and
unfortunate, but often preventable deaths.
Regrettably, the cancer burden is unequal and it disproportionately
affects African American women, includes all women of African descent -
i.e. people whose ancestors were brought involuntarily to the US in
the 1800s, as well as recent immigrants from other countries. (Per: US
Census Bureau), who on average develop cancer 10 years earlier
than white women.
Research has shown that many factors contribute to the disparity, and raising
awareness
may
be
a
first
step
in reversing this trend. The
underprivileged immigrant woman is often at a further disadvantage -
that of a language, cultural and literary barrier. Programs like ours
will help provide them the only opportunity they may ever have to
access much needed education and healthcare that could mean the
difference between life and death, by stimulating paradigm shifts.
Often the gap in educating our target community is in shortage of
adequate, targeted communication efforts, limited awareness campaigns
and existing cultural reservations about certain ailments.
Our programs are very humble and modest attempts at shifting this
paradigm, by committing to raising breast cancer awareness, which is a
global issue, and ultimately showing the impact made as a result of our
programs. The goal is to use La Femme Africaine as a medium for
immigrant women, to honor and cherish themselves, and to be confident
to seek necessary education and healthcare that will mitigate the surge
of breast cancer.
Mission:
“Empower women via educational and awareness building initiatives,
largely targeting women of African descent”.
Vision:
Develop and empower African women in the Diaspora, with the foresight
of enabling them to better represent and rebuild Africa's global image
- and to ultimately apply their experiences to the development of our
women in Africa.
We seek to impact lives of individuals in our community via our global
awareness programs and activities.
Current Programs
Breast Cancer Awareness Initiatives:
Leading up to the incorporation of La Femme
Africaine in 2006, our board members have been involved in various
independent and collaborative activities to foster Breast Cancer Awareness, and continue to do
so.
·
American
Cancer
Society
“Relay
for
Life”
– 1999 to date
· American
Cancer Society “Tell a Friend” – 2002
· Nattie's “The
Inaugural Atlanta NaijahFest: A West African Celebration Fostering
Breast Cancer Awareness” - October 2005
· American
Cancer Society: Mission Delivery Leadership Institute - November 2005
· “Nattie's
Quest”: Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure - May 2006
· American
Cancer Society’s "Volunteer Leadership Summit" 2006, 2007
· La Femme Africaine Annual PinkFest®:
October, in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to
raise funds for
our program administration. Launched - 2006
· La Femme Africaine Annual PinkWalk®:
May, continue to foster breast cancer awareness and raise funds.
Launched - 2007
· La Femme Africaine “Think Pink” initiative:
Ongoing provision of education, counseling and resources for Breast Cancer
care within identified help needed areas of
Gwinnett, DeKalb, Fulton and Cobb counties (areas with high immigrant
population).
Programs In Development - Seminars and Research:
As our breast cancer awareness programs resonate within the community,
we can direct our efforts in other areas to enhance breast cancer
research and advocacy, and also administer various programs for overall
feminine empowerment as indicated below.
· African
Baseline Study (Breast Cancer Incidences) and awareness campaign
· Breast Cancer
Advocacy
· Public Health
and Policies
· Healthy
Lifestyle Choices
· Cultural
Etiquettes
· Public
Speaking and Leadership Development
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