Training Health Promotion Women Community Leaders

All participants were graduates of our previously implemented diabetes prevention program (DPP), in which women learned the health dangers involved in a sendentary life style, and unhealthy diet, a lack of planned physical activity, insufficient personal health management, and smoking. The importacne of adopting a healthy lifestyle, and how to achieve this goal was stressed. The 24 graduates most motivated to empower others were chosen to take part in this 12 session leadership program. In the leadership program, women were taught more about the manner in which to bring about a change in one's health by adopting a healthy lifestyle, leadership, and facilitation skills and the development, implementation, and evaluation process required to conduct a community program that will impact society as a whole. Women learned how to map needs and resources, define goals and objectives, implement and evaluate a community based program. Following frontal training, three action grousp were established. Each group was responsible for developing and implementing a program in the community. Programs based on initiatives set during the first stage of the DPP included: working in schools to promote a healthy lifestyle, community work targeting non-working/homemaker women ages 25+, enhancing physical activity in the community, and empowering teens. Together, all of these initiatives: increased awareness of fast food dangers, increased awareness to the dangers of nargillah smoking, and increased awareness as to the importance of physical activity.