Narjis Nusaibah ’26 receives Projects for Peace grant funding breast cancer screenings in Bangladesh
Nusaibah is majoring in chemistry and economics at Carleton.
Narjis Nusaibah ’26 has received a $10,000 Projects for Peace grant to help facilitate breast cancer screening and awareness programs in Bangladesh this summer.
The award will enable Nusaibah, a chemistry and economics double-major, to work with a surgeon and medical students to teach Bangladeshi women to conduct breast self-exams and help those in need navigate the treatment system. Her project also includes hiring patient navigators and providing funding for diagnostic tests, ensuring women receive follow-up support beyond initial screenings.
“Stigma surrounding women’s health is deeply ingrained in Bangladeshi society, affecting access to medical information and care,” said Nusaibah. “Conversations about reproductive and breast health are often avoided, leaving many women uninformed about their own bodies. In rural areas, these challenges are compounded by poverty and limited healthcare access.”
Connecting her project to the mission of the Projects for Peace program, Nusaibah added, “For me, peace means freedom from this shame. It means creating a world where women can talk about their health without fear, where seeking help is not a source of embarrassment but empowerment.”
Projects for Peace is a global program that partners with educational institutions around the country to identify and support young peacebuilders. They grant $1.25 million each year to 125 student leaders to develop innovative, community-centered, and scalable responses to the world’s most pressing issues.