Europa Donna Roundtable Sharing National Best Practices

We held our first roundtable of the year on 27 April on the topic of “Sharing National Best Practices: Experiences from Cyprus and Sweden.” It was a truly inspiring and energising exchange, bringing together 28 dedicated advocates from across the Europa Donna network.

We were honoured to be joined by our President, Stella Mastora (Cyprus), and Board Member, Susanne Dieroff Hay (Sweden), whose outstanding presentations showcased the very best of national advocacy in action. Stella’s presentation on the Europa Donna Houses in Cyprus highlighted a deeply compassionate, patient-centred model offering holistic support in welcoming, home-like environments. Susanne’s insights into support for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients in Sweden demonstrated a powerful, multifaceted approach combining advocacy, peer support, and innovative programmes that truly respond to patients’ evolving needs.

The session sparked a vibrant and thoughtful discussion, with participants engaging in an animated Q&A that reflected both the depth of experience of the assembled group and the collective passion for progress. Key themes included the profound importance of listening, the advancement of the right to be forgotten, strategies for fundraising—particularly in the critical start-up phase—and the vital role of credibility and reputation in building sustainable programmes.

Above all, the roundtable was a celebration of shared learning and solidarity. The generosity, expertise, and enthusiasm of our speakers and participants made this a truly memorable and impactful meeting, offering rich inspiration for advocacy work at national level.

Both presentations will be uploaded soon on our EmpowerED Platform, so stay tuned!