Akwaaba! Welcome.
Creating healthy wellness habits begins at a young age. This project is designed to provide safe and healing activities, tools and practices to Black children and youth, that are culturally relevant to their African heritage.
sankofa covid-19 project for black children and youth
Who is this for?
This is an opportunity for Black children and youth aged 7-12 years and 13-16 years to learn about and practice cultural wellness so that they can better take care of their own needs during Covid-19 and beyond.
Children as young as 5 years old and youth older than 16 years old would also benefit from the content of this project, however it is designed specifically for the age groups mentioned.
What activities will be taught?
Activities will include but are not limited to:
- Singing
- Dancing
- Storytelling
- Craft-making
- Theatre of the Oppressed
- Consultations with an African Mental Health Clinician (RSW)
- Learning Swahili
- And more.
Online group sessions with our Mental Health Clinician will be organized bi-monthly.
Where will this take place?
This project was designed to be delivered in-person. Due to the current gathering restrictions, we will offer some activities online in December 2020 and January 2021. Not all activities can easily be transferred to an online platform therefore changes will be made whenever necessary to accomodate the platform we have available. As soon as we can safely resume gathering in-person, we will communicate the appropriate locations and ensure proper physical distancing at all time.
In-person locations will include:
Vancouver, Surrey, Victoria, New Westminster and Abbotsford.
How long is it for?
WINTER BREAK
December 22, 23 and 24 - 10:30 am to 11:30 am ONLINE
December 29, 30 and 31 - 10:30 am to 11:30 am ONLINE
IN 2021
January - online gatherings on Saturday and Sunday
February - online gatherings on Saturday and Sunday
March - online gatherings on Saturday and Sunday until March 14
Spring break - March 15 to 20, 2021 - 6-day Camp in Vancouver
Closing event: Sunday, March 21st, 2021
Who will teach our kids?
Several African artists and facilitators will lead the activities online and in person.
- Dancer and Lead Facilitator Jacky Essombe (Cameroon)
- Storyteller Jean Pierre Makosso (Congo)
- Percussionnist Yoro Noukoussi (Benin)
- Singer & Musician Kurai Mubaiwa (Zimbabwe)
- Dancer Angélique Muhorakeye (Rwanda)
- Singer & Musician Maju-Maju (South Africa)
- Percussionnist Munkie Ncapayi (South Africa)
- Dancer N'nato Camara (Guinea)
- Percussionnist Aly Traoré (Guinea)
Others will join the team, including:
- A Griot - traditional keeper of oral traditions (online only)
- An African Mental Health Clinician (RSW)
- An accreditated African teacher & special needs educator
- A theatre of the Oppressed certified facilitator
- Other African artists from across Canada (online only)
- And more.
Will parents be present?
YES! At the in-person gatherings, we will enlist moms to take turn to volunteer in order to promote family and community connectedness and maintain the community healing aspect of African traditions.
During the online gatherings, parents have full control over what their kids are leaning with the team and they will sometimes be required to participate in activities with their children.
Why this project?
Physical distancing means that many kids and teens are missing out on the regular activities they take part in. This can lead to increased anxiety, feelings of isolation and unhappiness. This makes it more important than ever for teens especially, to stay connected to their social groups. Emphasizing self-care and health is a good way to lessen stress and help teens adjust to the new normal.
We believe that the stress and anxiety caused by Covid-19 on the African population needs to be addressed in a culturally safe environment. African culture is grounded in community connections, and the lack of opportunity to gather during Covid-19 is epecially challenging for the African Youth and their families..
Drumming, singing and dancing together represent our traditional technology for healing. The Black and African youth will be guided in wellness activities that are culturally relevant to their Africah heritage, in order to contribute to their long term mental health and wellbeing.
More Questions?
Please feel free to email us at africanfriendshipsociety at gmail dot com.
I am ready to register my kids!
Great! We are looking forward to spending time together, as a family.
Please note: upon registration you will receive a confirmation email from us. PLEASE check your spam!
We would like to thank our generous funders
