Our History
The African Women’s Alliance of Waterloo Region is a non profit community based organization founded in 1995 with mission of promoting African Culture and Heritage through educational, social, and related activities, for members of the African community and the general populace. The Alliance also seeks to provide an effective support system for African women and their families living in the Waterloo region as they seek to combat the prevailing systemic and structural barriers in their journey.
Objectives
To maintain and promote African heritage and culture among African families and to sensitize the mainstream culture towards an increased awareness and appreciation of the African heritage, history, traditions and culture.
To provide mainstream organizations a paradigm shift, tools, language and strategies to employ in understanding the unique needs to Africans in Canada.
To assist members of African community, especially new immigrants in adapting themselves to the Canadian environment, and in their integration into Canadian society.
To provide a framework, consciousness raising, an ability to celebrate and transmit, educate and inform among African women and their families about the issues of settling in Canada.
To encourage the establishment of resources and access to services to meet the needs of African Women and their families.
To educate for African women, their children and Families in systems of learning, employment, social services and with all levels of government to ensure the physical, emotional well being of Africans and to empower them to contribute as productive, well functioning members of their chosen land.
To make available our views, opinions and suggestions on all issues pertaining to the well being of Africans and seek to influence change in legislation, policies, practices, norms that currently limit the effective integration of Africans into the social fabric of the country of their choice.
African Women’s Alliance of Waterloo Region supports new families to settle in this area by providing with information to access the existing services & programs.
Afro festival Event
The Alliance organizes annually the “Afro festival” a festival of dance, drama, storytelling, African cuisine and cultural shows that brings together cultural masterpieces from each of the 54 countries that make up the continent.
Community Forums
The Alliance organizes community forums in the areas of child development and parenting skills, education, civic partcipation, immigration and equity issuses. We provide cross-cultural sensitivity training for service providers.
Mentoring
The Alliance organizes mentoring programs to help African youth & children acquire positive role models and develop healthy helping relationship.
Governance
The African Women’s Alliance of Waterloo Region is governed by a volunteer board of directors.
Volunteer Activities
All our programs are run volunteers and we held annually event of volunteer appreciation day. |
