Umeed by LADIESFUND, an initiative of Dawood Global Foundation, has reached more than 1,000 women through its breast cancer awareness and empowerment training programmes, marking a significant milestone in its efforts to promote breast health education across Pakistan.
As part of its expanding outreach, Umeed recently brought together more than 100 girl students and their mothers at Behbud for an interactive breast cancer awareness session designed to encourage open conversations about screening, diagnosis and family support.
Moving beyond conventional health presentations, the programme combined interactive activities, personal testimonies and specially scripted mother-daughter role plays to make breast cancer awareness more accessible, relatable and actionable.
Mother-Daughter Role Plays Encourage Open Conversations
The highlight of the Behbud session was a pair of Urdu mother-daughter role plays designed and scripted by Umeed by LADIESFUND and performed by students Sawera Ejaz and Areeba Athar.
In the first scenario, Sawera played a daughter encouraging her mother, portrayed by Areeba, to overcome hesitation and undergo a mammogram. In the second, the mother shared her breast cancer diagnosis with her daughter, demonstrating how families can approach emotionally difficult conversations with compassion and honesty.
The performances highlighted the importance of family communication in breast cancer awareness, encouraging daughters to discuss breast health with their mothers and helping women feel supported during screening, diagnosis and treatment.
Survivor-Led Education and Practical Guidance
Umeed by LADIESFUND Co-Chairs Sima Kamil and Fauzia Khuhro led an interactive question-and-answer session with participants.
Sima opened the programme with an engaging icebreaker that encouraged mothers and daughters to participate comfortably in discussions about breast health.
Fauzia, a breast cancer survivor, demonstrated the clock method for breast self-examination and explained how women can become familiar with their bodies and recognise changes that may require professional medical attention.
A particularly moving contribution came from Shafaq Zainuddin, a LADIESFUND #LFVIP member who recently completed a doctor-recommended mammogram arranged and facilitated through Umeed.
Sharing her personal experience, Shafaq spoke about the apprehension and emotional challenges she initially faced, as well as the reassurance she received through Umeed’s guidance and support. Her testimony helped participants understand the emotional realities of screening and encouraged women to seek medical advice without allowing fear to prevent them from taking action.
Dr Nosheen Zaidi and Yasmin Kamal, Education Coordinator at Behbud, also attended the session.
Umeed Emphasises Awareness Across Generations
Sima Kamil, Co-Chair of Umeed by LADIESFUND, said the programme demonstrated the importance of making breast cancer conversations part of everyday family life.
She said encouraging young girls to discuss mammograms and breast health with their mothers could help establish a stronger culture of awareness that continues across generations.
Fauzia Khuhro, Co-Chair of Umeed by LADIESFUND and a breast cancer survivor, emphasised the importance of breast self-awareness, medical guidance and emotional support. She encouraged women to take the knowledge home and share it with loved ones.
Shafaq Zainuddin said her experience of undergoing a mammogram helped her understand the importance of addressing fear and seeking support. She hoped sharing her journey would give other women the confidence to take their first step towards screening.
Behbud Welcomes Interactive Health Education
Dr Shazia Azhar, Coordinator at Behbud, said the organisation specifically invited Umeed by LADIESFUND because of its experience and commitment to women’s health education.
She said the programme created a supportive learning environment for students and mothers, making a sensitive subject accessible while encouraging meaningful participation.
Dr Saba Hashmi, Senior Vice President, Group Health Chair and Acting President of Behbud, praised the student-led role plays for translating an important health message into relatable family conversations.
She also delivered the closing vote of thanks, acknowledging Umeed’s contribution to the awareness programme.
LADIESFUND Expands Breast Cancer Awareness Across Pakistan
Tara Uzra Dawood, Founder of LADIESFUND, said breast cancer awareness should extend beyond classrooms, clinics and annual campaigns into everyday family conversations.
She said the organisation developed the role plays to help young women confidently initiate discussions that might otherwise remain unspoken.
Dawood added that Umeed’s achievement of reaching more than 1,000 women reflects growing interest from organisations, aid agencies and blue-chip corporates seeking to deliver breast cancer awareness and empowerment education to their communities.
The session was coordinated and facilitated by Laiba Khan of LADIESFUND and delivered by the Umeed by LADIESFUND team.
Umeed conducts its training programmes across Pakistan in English, Urdu and Pashtu, helping women from diverse linguistic and community backgrounds access essential breast health information.
By combining interactive learning, survivor-led education, personal testimonies and student performances, the initiative continues to promote a culture in which breast health becomes a shared family priority.
About Umeed by LADIESFUND
Umeed by LADIESFUND is an initiative of Dawood Global Foundation focused on breast cancer awareness, health education and community empowerment. Through interactive training, survivor engagement, practical breast health education and partnerships with community organisations, Umeed works to make breast health knowledge accessible to women and families. Its programmes are conducted in English, Urdu and Pashtu and have reached more than 1,000 women across Pakistan.
About Dawood Global Foundation (DGF)
Dawood Global Foundation is a nonprofit organisation committed to advancing education, healthcare, women’s empowerment and sustainable community development across Pakistan.
