Visiting CANAVUA: A Black-Led Non-Profit in Edmonton
On February 29, JHC and Righting Relations Edmonton were honoured to visit CANAVUA (Canadian Volunteers United in Action), a Black-Led, Francophone organization in Edmonton. CANAVUA’s initiatives focus on volunteer capacity and engagement, food security, housing, transportation and support programs for newcomers and seniors. As we celebrated Black History Month in February, many wonderful community organizations with a passion for food security and food justice joined us in solidarity to show support for the incredible work CANAVUA is doing.
Pictured above: Folks from local non-profits and community organizations pose together with CANAVUA volunteers (wearing yellow shirts) during our visit at CANAVUA on Feb 29, 2024.
Executive Director, Dicky Dikamba, shared his journey of coming to Canada and founding CANAVUA with hopes of creating a place of community, connection and fostering a spirit of hope and giving back for volunteers and community members they serve. We learned about various initiatives and services that CANAVUA is providing, including volunteer training and capacity building, transportation services for newcomers and seniors, food hampers, mobile farmers market, and a new housing initiative that will see a 40-unit apartment complex to be built in the Queen Alexandra neighbourhood in the coming years. CANAVUA has experienced significant growth and continues to evolve based on the needs of community. Dicky contributes this success to the incredible force of nearly 1000 volunteers that are a part of CANAVUA. Here, volunteers and community members find support, connection, build their skills and capacity, receive training, and give back to the communities they live in.
We were thrilled to hear of their recent expansions, which include another bus to transport folks to medical appointments, shopping, or pick up newcomers from the airport. They have a new truck that supports the mobile farmers market which provides fresh fruits and vegetables to over 250 households per week, alongside volunteers who drive all over the city to deliver food and meals to seniors and persons with limited mobility. This truck was purchased with funding support from JHC and the Federal Government. They have a keen sense of taking care of elders, including offering free services such as hot meal delivery, housekeeping, moving services and light home maintenance. While CANAVUA only has a small paid staff of 10 people, their volunteers work passionately in the background to maintain and continually improve their programs and services in collaboration with staff.
The new vehicles working to support the programs and services CANAVUA offers!
CANAVUA has truly achieved what it dreamed of many years ago when Dicky first arrived in Canada. CANAVUA has become a second home for many, a place for all people to come and contribute to meaningful work that benefits the community they live in. They have stayed true to their purpose and have become a symbol in the Black and Francophone community. Their volunteers are a true example of diversity, inclusion, and meaningful engagement that happens when folks come together for the greater good, creating a culture of peace, love and joy.
JHC staff member Yaw Baayim reflected on the visit, saying:
“It was an honor to be invited by CANAVUA on a tour of their facility. Many representatives from different organizations showed up to support what this Francophone organization is doing for vulnerable Edmontonians. Their support for newcomers and seniors is remarkable. As we celebrate Black History Month with focus on Black led organizations, CANAVUA’s support to African newcomers needs to be highlighted to push them to do what they are doing. Black is remarkable!”.
Dicky Dikamba was a 2022 recipient of the John Humphrey Centre’s Human Rights Award, and a speaker on Day 8 of the Ignite Change Convention, hosting the session: Being a Black-led Non-Profit Housing Operator: New Challenges. Watch it below or find on YouTube: Being a Black-Led Non-Profit Housing Operator - New Challenges: CANAVUA (youtube.com)
You can also read a past blog post by Dicky which reflects on CANAVUA’s work during the pandemic and lessons learned in fighting food insecurity:
Executive Director, Dicky Dikamba (left), describing the impact volunteers make with the various projects at CANAVUA, while one of their bus drivers stands next to him (right). In the background sits over 240 fresh food hampers ready for distribution the next day.
CANAVUA is always seeking volunteers to help! To learn more or support their work, visit www.canavua.org