Washington West African Center

Mission

The mission of Washington West African Center (WAWAC) is to connect West Africans in Washington with local resources and bridge the gap between us and the wider community. Our activities cover a wide range with a goal to inform and educate our community members ways and means to discover and reach their full potential.

Since 2017, we have provided a host of culturally relevant services based on our community’s needs. We have structured programs and activities for every age group in our community -  from a Grandma's monthly hangout, adult learning classes, annual back to school get-together, awareness and advocacy, transportation services, cultural appreciation, sounds of Africa festival, employment support, a Drop-in-Center to help people with  language translation and interpretation, employment assistance, rental assistance to bill payment services etc. 

The COVID-19 pandemic only widened the divide we were trying to forge. For example, a good number of people in our community who qualify for unemployment or the P-EBT (pandemic emergency food relief) did not receive the benefits. This is not because they didn't want it but because they either did not know how and where to apply or they did not have the means to apply (computers, phone, or internet). Since COVID-19, the demand for our services has increased remarkably. This required us to include the provision of new relevant services such as distributing face masks, hand sanitizers, gloves, and other COVID-19 prevention and protection gear. We also started providing grocery assistance, medical and utility bill payment, and other types of support based on an individual's needs to mitigate the adverse effects of the pandemic. In late 2021, we started our weekly “Bideww After School Program” and monthly movie night for the kids in the West African community. This program ensures a safe and culturally appropriate space for West African kids.

WATCH OUR GIVING TUESDAY VIDEOS FROM THE WAWAC TEAM HERE:

https://fb.watch/oC91lROHl0/?mibextid=cr9u03 

https://fb.watch/oC92Xr_513/?mibextid=cr9u03

https://fb.watch/oC93HcGN6k/?mibextid=cr9u03

Drop-In Center

WAWAC is the 911 and the 211 for West Africans who are living with their families and working in Washington State - which is home to over 20,000 West Africans who settled here dating as far back as 40 years ago. The population for this demographic has grown exponentially, and the need for an extended Drop-in Center that serves as a safe haven and provides wrapped-around culturally appropriate services cannot be timelier. Essentially, it is crucial that this center is strengthened to both extend and continue to deliver critically needed services as the need from the community continues to expand. This is because the community is now very familiar with the center and has established the trust that allows them to reach-out to us whenever they are in need. Read more here

BIDEWW After School Program

WAWAC’s “Bideww After School Program and homework club seeks to create a culturally appropriate, fun and unique learning environment that fosters social skills, and provides learning opportunities for West African kids through exciting structured activities free of charge. It is for parents whose kids need help with homework or inspiration to learn other life and social skills. This is also a platform for West African kids to interact, learn from each other and build their own community. It is available to school-aged children 5 to 17 years old in Snohomish and King County twice a week. Through this platform, the kids of  our community explore their artistic instincts through collaborative art projects – painting and drawing, tie & dye, cinematography, dance etc. Read more here

Grandma's Monthly Hangout

The elderly are the pillars of our community for they are steadfast in ensuring that the values that keep us together are served and maintained. However, our elders are often at risk of being lonely due to their children’s busy schedules. As a result, WAWAC strives to bring our grandmothers together once every month in a space where they can interact, establish a sense of belonging and enjoy community. Once every month, we bring together seniors in our community as a support group. They hang out, do some projects like singing along, knitting and hand weaving etc. We also provide them with transportation back and forth to medical appointments, the Masjid and to visit each other. After a long hiatus caused by COVID-19, the first Grandma's Hangout meeting since August 12th was held. The group has since resumed organizing monthly hangout sessions, where they plan Islamic conferences, clean the Masjids, visit the sick and the families of deceased members of the society, offer traditional marriage counseling, and participate in social and community events. Currently, the Grandma's Hangout program has 140 active members. Read more here