African Cultural Winter Celebration, hosted by REACH Multicultural Family Center (MFC)
By Jenny Francis The Afro News Burnaby
An important community event took place at Eastburn Community Centre in Burnaby on 12 December 2009. The 3rd annual African Cultural Winter Celebration, hosted by REACH Multicultural Family Center (MFC) brought together approximately two hundred people from all over the world. Following prayers in Arabic and English, guests enjoyed a delicious halal meal prepared by Iraqi and African women, musical entertainment by the Togolese Ensemble and Zion’s Children of God (from Congo), and inspired storytelling by Jean-Pierre Makosso. Welcoming speeches were offered by guests of honour including NDP MP Peter Julian; Burnaby City Counsellors Sav Dhaliwal and Paul McDonell; Ros Salvador, a lawyer with the BC Public Interest Advocacy Centre; and Lina Fabiano, interim Executive Director of REACH Community Health Centre. After the performances, a crowd of adults and children hit the dance floor, shaking it to the sound of DJ beats. At the end of the night, laundry baskets filled with donated gifts were distributed to sixty-five families and individuals. Guests and organisers expressed their appreciation for the generosity of the donors (local businesses and individuals) who contributed items to the baskets.
The celebration was organised by Khayanga Jenipher Wasike, a Cross-cultural Health Promoter with REACH MFC, with the assistance of volunteer coordinator, Jennifer Wesman, who works as a Community Coordinator at Frontier College. Khayanga explained that the purpose of the event is to promote peace, and to celebrate love and unity, by sharing food, music, and good conversation together with friends and family. She says the evening offers “a piece of home away from home,” a place to share and connect with friends and others in the community. The celebration’s popularity is evidenced by the rapid and steady increase in attendance since it was initiated in 2007.
As an immigrant from Kenya and a community worker who promotes healthy settlement and integration, Khayanga is aware of the challenges that immigrants, particularly refugees, face in Canada. Despite the many opportunities here, shortfalls in resources affecting the provision of services to new Canadians often mean that the most vulnerable are left without sufficient resources to thrive. Many African families struggle with low incomes due to a variety of factors including non-recognition of credentials, discrimination, the current economic recession, the requirement to repay the transportation loan to CIC for Government Assisted Refugees, long immigration processing times, and language difficulties for non-English speakers. However, Khayanga insists that by working together, a solution can be found to any problem. She urges anyone who needs help to call her at 604 254 6468; join the African Women’s English Support Group, the African Children’s Homework Club, or the African Youth Group; or come to her office at 1145 Commercial Drive, Vancouver.
The organisers thank the volunteers, cooks, performers, and others who generously gave their time and talent to make the African Cultural Winter Celebration a success. For more information or to volunteer for 2010, please call 604 254 6468. Afro News is pleased to support this event and we look forward to seeing you next year!
