Fulbright Specialist Nadia Firdaus worked with collaborators at Universidade dos Açores on the social work project “Co-Designing Lifestyle & Nature Based Wellbeing After Cancer,” and shares how much the experience has enriched her work and her life.
«My Fulbright Specialist experience in São Miguel was deeply meaningful, both personally and professionally. Collaborating with the University of the Azores on lifestyle and nature based approaches for cancer survivor wellbeing allowed me to engage directly with local survivors and community members through a series of guided forest walks for stress management, social connection, and mindful engagement with nature.
During these walks, survivors connected with one another in a calm, supportive environment. The walks offered quiet moments of slowing down and being present in nature. As a cancer survivor myself, it was especially meaningful to be part of these shared experiences and feel our collective resilience.
(Fulbright Specialist and cancer survivors on guided forest walk; photo credits: Osvaldo Janeiro)
I also had the opportunity to teach a class on Lifestyle Medicine to social work students. In the class, students learned the six pillars of Lifestyle Medicine and engaged in a capacity building discussion on how these ideas can be applied in their fieldwork and future practice. It was a meaningful experience, especially as Lifestyle Medicine is growing internationally, and sharing it with social work students offered a rich opportunity for cross border knowledge exchange.
(Fulbright Specialist with Social Work class)
Another highlight was the Freedom 250 Social Mail Art event, created in collaboration with the Social Work Department and American Corners. Social work students used their creative expression to design postcards, which they wrote to influential American social workers throughout U.S. history. These postcards culminated in an outdoor art installation in the university garden, highlighting the connection between Portuguese social work students and the legacy of the U.S. social work profession.
(Freedom 250 Social Mail Art instalation)
Throughout my time in São Miguel, I felt welcomed by faculty, students, and the broader community. Their kindness and openness made the collaboration feel natural and genuinely connective, grounded in a sense of shared humanity. The natural environment of the island, including its forests, coastlines, and volcanic landscapes, contributed significantly to the overall experience.»
– Thank you, Nadia, your work is truly inspiring!
Photos courtesy of Nadia Firdaus