CMZ BRA Campaign Project: CHALLENGES and SOLUTIONS

CMZ B.R.A. (Bra to Raise Awareness) Campaign Project.

There was a need for thousands of brassieres to be able to put up the main giant bra installation art, thus, community involvement was contemplated to raise awareness in every step of the CMZ B.R.A. Campaign Project.

The BRA collection process started with the creation of attractive and informative BRA collection drop boxes by the CMZ workforce last January 2014 followed by the face-to face distribution of the BRA collection boxes to strategic institutions in Zamboanga City such as schools, government and private offices, malls and supermarkets.

Media and social media were already utilized in all phases of the advocacy to propagate the message to: “Love Your Breasts. Have Them Checked.” and “Early Detection and Treatment Save Lives”, and, to encourage bra collection.

Challenges and solutions during implementation.

During the initial implementation, CMZ workforce was already enthusiastic and cooperative, in particular excited about the chance to use their artistic ability to promote the advocacy. The engagement of the CMZ workforce continued with the collection of donated brasuse of their artistic ability in the advocacy and the engagement of the CMZ workforce continued with the collection of donated bras. The response of the workforce was overwhelming.

However, as expected, there were still some sectors in the Zamboanga Community who conveyed their apprehensions related to the use of brassieres in the advocacy.

During the collection period, one of the main reactions was that the BRA Collection boxes showed the bra or breast and may not be acceptable for the audience like in schools. We explained that the BRA boxes chosen for the schools were the more conservative ones.  One high school was really apprehensive and the school administration was advised to place the box inside the faculty room. Later, this school requested for a breast awareness lecture for the mothers of their students.

During the collection period, the CMZ workforce gathered for a BRA Art workshop with the artist, to initiate the decoration of the bras so these do not appear as underwear. The workshop gathered beautifully embellished bras so there was no need for consultative meetings to check if the bra medium was acceptable.

BRA Art phase

Having collected 9,600 bras, there was more than enough bra medium for more than one installation art work. There was again a need for the decoration of the bras in a large scale, to increase acceptability of the art medium.

The second BRA Art workshop was conducted with the community partners from Zamboanga City and the CMZ workforce decorating together to generate as many beautiful brassieres for the installation art.

This was a jovial workshop as each participant producing unique BRA art from the “Borloloy Buffet”, an array of ornaments, buttons, beads and other materials for selection and use.

The BRA Art creations were fabulous, thus, the artist chose the most attractive, unique or meaningful bras for another initiative, the B.R.A. Art Exhibit.

The primary Installation Art is the Ciudad De Zamboanga B.R.E.A.S.T. (Bra to Raise Early Awareness for Screening and Treatment) Installation Art which was on display for 9 months at the main city park, the Paseo Del Mar and at that time, the lone attraction of the park, other than the dancing fountain.

The next three Installation Artworks: the B.R.A. Vinta, the B.R.A.lentine Wall and the B.R.A. Christmas tree were created by the CMZ BWC staff and CMZ maintenance staff using the bras from the original collection and existing materials to embellish the bras, thus, resulting to grand outputs with a low-cost budget.

CMZ BRAngay Project

This offshoot of the CMZ BRA Campaign Project was developed to intensify promotion of Breast Cancer Awareness through education and screening to the Zamboanga City community down to the barangay level. Zamboanga City is composed of 98 barangays.

Challenges and solutions during implementation.

The passive and conservative disposition of the community needed continuous follow-up for lecture and free screening schedules, thus, identification of active communities and organizations had to be given priority.

Continuous BRA activities throughout 2014 and 2015 have illustrated sincerity on the side of the CMZ BWC, thus, Partnerships were forged to help gather participants. Among the very active partners are: 1) Servicio Caravan of E-Media for High Schools to include Breast Lecture and Screening as one of the offered services; 2) City Government Gender and Development group for several Breast Lectures and Screening as well as invitation of the community for the Pink October B.R.A. Parade and BRA Art Wall at the Airport, 3) City Health Office, for endorsement of  CMZ to be the City representative at the national forum on the Breast Wellness advocacy; 4) Barangay Health Centers where we usually hold our activities and 5) the Archdiocese of Zamboanga Social Action group for invitation to parishes. 

Another challenge is the security situation of Zamboanga City. Two of our scheduled activities for October 2015 to more remote barangays were cancelled due to a kidnapping incident within the City a day prior. Despite willingness o the CMZ BREAST Team to serve, restrictions to some barangays for safety reasons, somehow limit the reach of the project at present, accordingly, especially this Election season

The initiatives continue in the more urban barangays. This territorial reach suffices for now since there are still many barangays and organizations to cater to.

For barangays that are not ready for high technology presentations, the CMZ BRAngay Team is prepared with tarpaulin materials for education purpose.

For the high school students, there are also fun activities such as design of T-Shirt design to complement lectures and in other sessions, there are also question and answer games conducted.

The Team is also prepared to converse in the dialect most understood by the audience, to facilitate communication and ensure understanding. Individuals are identified for Visayan, Chavacano and Tausug dialects when needed.