Words by Risma Nadira Iswani (@rismanadira) – XLFL Batch 3

The world needs you to change it. So please ask yourself “what would I do if I were not afraid?” Then go do it. (Sheryl Sandberg)

It takes more than a courage to even change your own world when you are facing one of the scariest nightmares ever called cancer. A year ago, I was diagnosed having fibroadenoma mammae, a benign type of breast cancer. I’m so gratitude to finally win the battle. But at the same time, my heart crushed to know that there are more than 8,2 million people out there who are forced to stop while fighting for their  life.

The challenge was arisen when I wanted to do something about it, but all I could do was nothing.

The opportunity came. I was given a project called Social Innovation Challenge as a final project in my XL Future Leaders Program. My friends and I were able to brainstorm the ideas and eventually we could come up with a solution called Warehope.

 

Warehope or stands for Warehouse of Hope is a digital platform which aims to connect the unconnected cancer fighters, cancer survivors and cancer supporters through a website. By providing inspirational stories, cancer articles (from medical sides, psychological sides, or even financial sides), and a discussion forum. This platform is expected to be the connector between cancer patients, cancer communities, and other parties related to cancer.

Teamwork makes a dream works. Without a beautiful collaboration with many parties, this platform will only be a usual website that exists yet cannot give advantages for its viewers. That is why we made a collaboration by inviting doctors, psychologists and cancer communities for a talkshow and discussion event called “Share Hope : Creating Social Support Ecosystem for Cancer Fighter, Survivor, and Supporter”. It was held on Saturday, 17th of December 2016.

We had valuable sharing from Ibu Endah (Komunitas Kanker Payudara Srikandi), Mbak Tyas (Yayasan Pita Kuning), and Ibu Lifina Dewi Pohan (Lecturer from Faculty of Psychology UI). This had made the event beyond inspirational. Furthermore, listening stories which were delivered by several survivors made the audience aware and understand how important to have early warning. We could not stop to have our goosebumps. The event itself was meant to motivate all the participants, but the fact was it also motivated us, the Warehope team.

The discussion could only be that alive because of the participation of Yayasan Onkologi Anak Indonesia (YOAI), Yayasan Kasih Anak Indonesia (YKAKI), Komunitas Kanker Payudara Srikandi, Yayasan Pita Kuning, and Yayasan Sentuhan Kasih Anak Indonesia.

For Warehope, this is not going to end as a one-time event. Although we have graduated from XL Future Leaders, we are going to continue this. This is going to be our stepping stone to jump higher and run faster.

Entrepreneurial skill is one of the core competencies that were taught in XL Future Leaders. It is not merely about creating a business or income and getting profit, it is about thinking like a business person. Hence, it is the spirit to make a difference, giving impact for the society and creating sustainability.

The choice is in our hands. It is our decision to make a different. Be affected or affect the world. Sometimes, changing a person’s life means a world for the person who needs it most.

The fact that there are more than 28 million people living with cancer and all of them are living around us. There is no reason for anyone to fight alone. There is a can in cancer, so we can beat it if we fight it together!