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
Organization name
Washington West African Center
Tax id (EIN)
81-5319066
Category
Community & Economic Improvement
Demographics
Black & African American, Immigrants & Refugees, Youth & Children, Seniors, Individuals with Disabilities, Low-Income
Address
19203 36th Ave W #210Snohomish County, WA, US
King County, WA, US
Pierce County, WA, US
Kitsap County, WA, US
Clark County, WA, US