Empowering Women Through Health Education
At 100 Women, we believe in the power of education to transform lives. That’s why we’re so proud to support The Water Well Project, a 2023 grant recipient dedicated to improving the health literacy of women from refugee, asylum seeker, and migrant backgrounds.
With the help of a $49,592 grant, this initiative has already delivered 29 health education sessions across Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania, reaching 394 women directly and benefiting more than 2,160 individuals. These sessions aren’t just about sharing information—they’re about empowering women to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
Breaking Barriers: Making Health Education Inclusive & Accessible
Health literacy is a key factor in ensuring better health outcomes, but for many women in migrant and refugee communities, accessing reliable, culturally relevant health information can be challenging. That’s where The Water Well Project steps in.
To ensure no woman is left behind, the organisation works with 18 multicultural support organisations and delivers sessions in seven languages (Arabic, Burmese, Dari, Falam Chin, Farsi, Tigrinya, and Vietnamese) with the help of professional interpreters. This approach ensures that women can learn in a language they understand and feel comfortable discussing sensitive health topics.
The sessions are facilitated by a dedicated team of 22 healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, and pharmacists, who generously volunteer their time. Together, they’ve contributed over 150 hours, not only educating participants but also deepening their own understanding of culturally diverse healthcare needs.
Empowering Women with Knowledge: What the Sessions Cover
Each session is designed to provide practical, culturally tailored information on key women’s health topics, including:
- Breast, Cervical, and Other Common Cancers – Understanding screening programs, early detection, and self-examination techniques.
- Contraception & Sexual Health – Providing clear, judgment-free information on contraception options and STI prevention.
- Menopause Awareness – Addressing symptoms, health risks, and management strategies for menopause.
- Positive Body Image – Encouraging self-confidence and challenging common misconceptions about women’s bodies.
- Pregnancy & Postnatal Wellbeing – Offering guidance on maternal health, self-care, and emotional well-being.
These sessions are designed to be interactive and engaging. Each includes:
- Breast models for self-examination practice.
- Cervical screening kits to introduce self-collection options.
- Anatomy models and contraception samples for visual learning.
- Scenario-based activities and discussions to encourage open conversations.
By using real-life examples and culturally relevant teaching methods, The Water Well Project ensures that every woman walks away feeling confident, informed, and empowered.
The Impact: Confidence, Awareness & Better Health Choices
The response to these sessions has been overwhelmingly positive. Evaluation data shows:
- 98% of participants learned something new about their health.
- 96% feel confident sharing what they learned with their families and friends.
- 95% feel more confident accessing healthcare services.
- 93% feel empowered to seek out more information on health topics.
The ripple effect is undeniable. When women gain health knowledge, they share it with their families and communities, creating a wider impact beyond just the session attendees.
One participant shared, “I didn’t know I could do a cervical screening test myself. This makes me feel much more comfortable.”
Another participant reflected, “Menopause is something I didn’t know much about. Now I feel more prepared for what’s coming.”
Even the healthcare professionals facilitating these sessions find the experience invaluable.
“I received a lovely email from a community representative after a session. Two participants had undergone further investigation for breast lumps and were told ‘all clear’ post-ultrasound. For these women, ‘all clear’ was only partially reassuring, as they weren’t sure what the lumps were or whether they might change over time. The group had a great discussion about what questions they could ask to better understand their results and ongoing monitoring. The women openly shared their experiences, making it a richer learning experience for all.”
What’s Next? More Lives to Impact
The Water Well Project is just getting started. By the end of 2025, they aim to:
- Deliver 50 health education sessions
- Reach 750 direct participants
- Expand partnerships with multicultural organisations
As a proud supporter of this initiative, 100 Women is thrilled to see the lasting impact of our collective giving. By funding projects like this, we’re not only improving health access and awareness but also helping women gain confidence in managing their own well-being.
This project is a powerful reminder of how collective philanthropy can change lives.
