Wearing pink saris, SSI staff joined the South Asian women’s network, SAHELI, in Parramasala’s Opening Night Parade in Parramatta last month.
SAHELI – a Hindi word that translates to ‘sister’ – and SSI staff took part in the Pink Sari Project, led by NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service, at the Parramasala Parade to help raise awareness about breast cancer and breast screening.
Indian and Sri Lankan communities in NSW are said to have one of the lowest rates of breast cancer screening in the state, which can increase chances of survival through early detection. SAHELI supports the initiative by facilitating a mobile breast screening clinic that is free to women 40 years and older.
SAHELI operates under the Social Entrepreneurial Ventures of Australian South Asians organisation, known as SEVA International. The group of volunteers works closely with SSI, promoting health information, sponsoring SSI’s Community Kitchen and supporting social and cultural events, including Diwali celebrations, for SSI’s clients of South Asian heritage.
