Sandy, Egypt

Volunteers make a significant difference in the lives of breast cancer fighters who may be reluctant to continue treatment. A volunteer's presence, from the moment a fighter enters the hospital, offering reassurance and a welcoming smile, until they complete their treatment journey, can make significant shifts.

My journey with volunteering began during my university graduation project, at another organization. Since 2016, I have been involved with Baheya Foundation. Initially, there was no dedicated department for psychological support or volunteering at Baheya. I took the initiative to walk around the hospital, encouraging the children of the fighters undergoing treatment, who were there as companions, to volunteer while their mothers were receiving treatment. We would also distribute positive quotes throughout the hospital.

At that time, I decided to establish a department for psychological support and volunteering. The concept was not widespread then, and there were not many volunteers, nor was there sufficient awareness of the importance of psychological support. There was no team in place, so we started from scratch. We organized trips, therapy sessions, and provided psychological support within Baheya. We then expanded our services to offer sessions outside of Baheya as well. We organized art workshops and various projects to empower the women to start their own businesses.

Every activity at Baheya has a unique story. For example, I remember a woman with cancer who expressed her desire to learn how to read and write. We organized a literacy program, and many individuals graduated from it, receiving literacy certificates from the General Authority for Adult Education. When I see a fighter, who has completed primary school, is about to start preparatory then secondary school, and is planning to attend university while supporting her children, I feel a sense of accomplishment and triumph.

The drama activity is one of the activities that makes me feel like I have made a real difference. The fighters were very shy and felt let down by those around them. The theater workshop transformed them significantly, empowering them and helping them recognize their role and value in society.

The art workshops have enabled many women to start their own businesses, creating new sources of income for them.

Other organizations in Egypt have begun to adopt our model of psychological support and implement it themselves. We now offer courses and train psychology and sociology students on how to interact with patients, emphasizing that volunteering is time dedicated to serving others.

In 2017, we signed a cooperation protocol with AIESEC, starting with one university. We now collaborate with various universities, and students apply through the AIESEC website to volunteer at Baheya for a month and a half to gain experience that they can then apply in their own countries. When they return home, they share their success stories with us.

We have made significant progress and have changed the mindset of the women we help. They now understand the importance of psychological support. Initially, they believed that they only needed medical treatment, but now they actively seek psychological support, overcoming previous reluctance.

Cancer is not the end of life; it is the beginning of a new chapter. You will meet new people, form new relationships, and we will all be there to support you.