Who We Are
The Association upholds its commitment to the community by actively addressing issues related to education, employment, cross cultural understanding, and human rights.
We provide social, economic, psychological, and spiritual support for members and their families across all aspect of their lives from new jobs and businesses to weddings, births, and bereavement.
The Association aspires to strengthen the spirit of unity amongst immigrants and non-immigrants in our communities through connection and sisterhood.
Check out information and recruitment procedures as well as the ongoing activities UACWA has done in the community and continues to do to strengthen their professional growth in social, economic, psychological, and spiritual development.
Mission & Vision
Mission
To empower African Canadian women and their families through education, cultural celebration, social connection, and access to resources so they can activate their potential, generate prosperity, and thrive in their communities.
Vision
Be the catalyst to create the right social, political, economic, and cultural environments to support the full engagement and contribution of African Canadian women and their families to Canadian society.
Our Values
Support
Community
Inclusion
Accountability
Goals & Objectives
The primary objective of UACWA is to determine and respond to the needs and issues that African-Canadian women and their families encounter in areas of Education, Employment, Cross-cultural understanding, and Human Rights.
Other key Objectives are
- To provide opportunities and framework for professional growth in social, economic, psychological, and spiritual development.
- To act as a voice for African Canadian women in correcting misrepresentations and any misconception about our culture as they impact on us.
- To formulate strategies dealing with different issues that affect African Canadian women and their families.
- To provide support for members and their families by designing programs that will meet our needs in education, professional development, cross cultural understanding, and self empowerment.
- To work in conjunction with other existing organisations in promoting cross-cultural understanding and enrichment through cultural educational programs.
- To design cultural programs that will enhance our children’s learning and development.
- To welcome other new African Canadian Women and their families to Nova Scotia and Canada, and to facilitate and expedite their settlement process.
Our History
It was in March 1996 that a group of five women came together to discuss the possibility of establishing an organisation that will address the various challenges immigrant women and their families encounter as they settle or transition to Canada, with a specific emphasis on settling in the Halifax metro area.
Our Journey started in the home at the kitchen table when our four pioneers were talking about their settlement and looking at the challenges in their new world. They began thinking about how they give to the community, and how can they help or pour into those who are coming and to come.
The United African Canadian Women’s Association of Nova Scotia (UACWA) was registered as a not-for-profit community-based association with the Nova Joint Registry.
UACWA hosted a two-week summer camp for children which led to the creation of the UACWA Children Cultural Enrichment Program aka “Saturday School”.
The objective is to create awareness and promotion of our culture and to fundraise and have fun
The UACWA CASP (aka Saturday School) for children ages 4 to 15 was started. With a defined curriculum, the program is held on Saturdays during the regular school year and is hosted at Mount Saint Vincent University. The program’s primary goal is to enhance the self-identity and cultural awareness of children of African descent.
The UACWA implemented a pilot project on the Employment Mentorship and Support Program for Immigrant Women.
Hosted the first Community Capacity funding to address organizational needs called Women And Gender Equality.
Started an Initiative for Race-Based and Indigenous Identity Data Collection in Nova Scotia. UACWA convened several community engagement sessions to collect community feedback and thoughts on the Health of Race-Based Data Collection.
Hosted the first Emancipation Day Activities with a grand parade which was well attended by members of the organization and their family and friends. There was lots of music, dancing, and food.
UACWA Hosted its first-ever all-women’s Conference – Elevate HER. Over 100 women were in attendance at this event. They were empowered and hopefully, the event will be held yearly.
The work of the association since its inception has been under the leadership of an executive committee.
UACWA Pioneer staff (Director of Programs and Project/Administrative Assistant) resumed work in August 2023.
Funding and Donors
UACWA will not be able to achieve its goals and objectives without the support of funders who have supported our goals and objectives
In pursuit of our objectives, UACWA secures funding and grants to deliver impactful projects and programs, all executed with strict accountability. Currently our projects and programs are being funded by:
- Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
- Women And Gender Equality Canada (WAGE)
- Community Culture Tourism and Heritage (CCTH)
- Labor, Skill and Immigration (LSI)
- Canadian Red cross
- Nova Scotia Department of Opportunities and Social Development
Partnerships
Individually we are one drop, but together we are an ocean.
UACWA has formed and continues to form, strategic partnerships with governments, local organizations, NGOs, private companies, and others to mobilize resources, find innovative solutions, and reach vulnerable communities
with the assistance they need when they need it. Such partnerships include; the YWCA Young Women’s Christian Association, The Africadian Empowerment Academy (AEA), and The African Nova Scotian Decade for People of African Descent Coalition (DPAD). UAWCA is in the process of building more partnerships with organizations that share the same or similar values systems, goals etc.
Our active partners include:
- Partnership for Research with African Newcomers (PRAN)
- Co-Creath
- YWCA
- Black Business Initiative
- African Nova Scotian Affairs
- Nova Scotia Health
- Canadian Learning Code
ANSDPAD
African Nova Scotian Decade for People of African Descent
Africadian
Education and skills development-based organization
YWCA Halifax
Employment Skills, Housing, Early Learning & Childcare