Kwanzaa Celebration
We stress culture because it gives identity, purpose and direction. It tells us who we are, what we must do, and how we can do it.
Preparation for Kwanzaa
Maulana Karenga
We stress culture because it gives identity, purpose and direction. It tells us who we are, what we must do, and how we can do it.
The [Kwanzaa] holiday, then will of necessity, be engaged as an ancient and living cultural tradition which reflects the best of African thought and practice in its reaffirmation of the dignity of the human person in community and culture, the well-being of family and community, the integrity of the environment and our kinship with it, and the rich resource and meaning of a people's culture.
We're getting ready for our KWANZAA celebration on December 7, 2024. This preparation includes finalizing the event details, practicing for presentations, and planning creative activities. It's not too late to join in. This is a great opportunity to engage in a community event that promotes shared awareness
UNDERSTANDING THE PRINCIPLE OF “UJAMAA”
UNDERSTANDING THE PRINCIPLE OF “UJAMAA”
In this session we look at our past entrepreneurial accomplishments as a means of empowering ourselves to create better outcomes for future generations.
"A race that is solely dependent upon another for its economic existence sooner or later dies. Being satisfied to drink the dregs from the cup of human progress will not demonstrate our fitness as a people to exist alongside of others, but when of our own initiative we strike out to build industries, governments, and ultimately empires, then and only then will we as a race prove to our creator and to man in general that we are fit to survive and capable of shaping our own destiny.”
The Honourable Marcus Mosiah Garvey- Leader, Black Nationalist, Entrepreneur, Publisher, Orator
Orientation Day
2024 -2025 Theme: SANKOFA JOURNEY TO “UJAMAA” (Coorperative Economics)
The gift to our children that lasts a lifetime!
Join us as we embark on this exciting cultural heritage journey together! Each Africentric session consists of its own bi-weekly theme, so that your child has something new to anticipate with each coming week.
If you have children that fall into the age groups of 5-12 and 12 -18, it’s well worth taking a look at our hands-on activities, which are designed to keep your child engaged, while creating a safe space for parents and elders in the community to connect and share our history and common issues affecting African Canadian families.
CELEBRATING 55 YEARS IN THE COMMUNITY
ACHA in the Park
Saturday September 14, 1.00 - 5.30pm
Thompson Memorial Park, Area D.
1005 Brimley Rd, Scarborough, ON M1P 4C6
All are welcome to this family friendly event.
Music, Drumming, Games, Performances, Children activities, Refreshments and so much more.
ACHA Year End Award Ceremony and Appreciation Day
"Education is useless if you cannot relate it to your immediate environment." Dr. Amos Wilson
ACHA YOUTH RECITING THE AFRICAN PLEDGE:
We will remember the humanity, glory and sufferings of our ancestors,
and honour the struggles of our elders.
We will strive to bring new value and life to our people.
We will have peace and harmony among us.
We will be loving, sharing and creative.
We will work study and listen so we may learn, learn so we may teach.
We will cultivate self reliance.
We will struggle to resurrect and unite our homeland.
We will have discipline, patience, devotion and courage.
We will live as models to provide new direction for our people.
We will be free and self determined.
WE ARE AFRICAN PEOPLE WE WILL WIN!
End of year celebration with games and awards. Bring your favourite dish to share with everyone
Bring your business to share with us as we introduce the upcoming ACHA year focus of UJAMAA using our Sankofa lens and our "Conversations with our ACHA Elders" video series.
We return to John Buchan School in September 2024
"The Greenhouse Gas Effect and Global Warming".
Treat the Earth well. It was not given to you by your parents. It was loaned to you by your children. ~ Kenyan Proverb
“Climate change is more than statistics, it's more than data points. It's more than net-zero targets. It's about the people, it's about the people who are being impacted right now,” Vanessa Nakete (Climate activist Uganda)
We Close out Earth Month with a presentation by Aisha Buchner. She will focus on how our everyday activities impact the environment and practical changes we can make to ensure a livable planet for future generations.
The Presentation:
Giving a background on greenhouse gasses, their effects and the everyday activities that contribute to them being emitted into the atmosphere. also identifying green alternatives for ex. Riding a bike or taking public transportation more often.
Explaining that in North America and in Toronto specifically we do not feel the effects of global warming that much due to the fact that we are near the Great Lakes. However, this does not mean that other countries especially in the South are not affected.
Everyday activities we participate in the North or the more “Developed” Countries have severe impacts and lead to extreme weather conditions, ex drought, floods, storms etc. The countries most affected are often times the least able to protect themselves and recover. And lastly, speaking to some of the consequences faced by ecosystems for example, coral reef bleaching and loss of habitat.
Harmony with Nature:
Understanding The Impact of Human Activities On Nature.
We close out Earth Month on this collaboration with BE Initiative, knowing that the work of sustaining our planet requires us all to play our part now and into the future.
Building on our previous discussion about how nature thrives under the right conditions, this session will delve into the potential consequences of disrupting the four factors crucial for life.
We'll explore the history of human activities that have had a significant negative impact on the environment, leading up to the present day. In addition to incorporating Harambee, as we did in our last workshop, we will introduce Ohanife, an African concept highlighting the critical relationship between humans and the natural world, emphasizing social cohesion.
THE WISDOM OF OUR ENVIRONMENTALIST
“Let us be good stewards of the Earth we inherited. All of us have to share the Earth’s fragile ecosystems and precious resources, and each of us has a role to play in preserving them. If we are to go on living together on this earth, we must all be responsible for it.” ~ Kofi Annan
Treat the Earth well. It was not given to you by your parents. It was loaned to you by your children. ~ Kenyan Proverb
INDABA MOMENT ACTIVITIES
Examining some of the lessons that inform,inspire ,influence and motivate us about 'Sustainable Living" from:
Ancient Kemet
Africa Today
Noted Black Environmentalist
Using our tools,(The Nguzo Saba, Maat) to creatively design an Action Plan (intergenerational)
Community Life Box Workshop
As Earth Month approaches, we are excited to present this workshop in collaboration with BE Initiative.
“Trees are living symbols of peace and hope. A tree has roots in the soil yet reaches to the sky. It tells us that in order to aspire we need to be grounded...”
― Wangari Maathai,
This fun interactive workshop will focus on the building blocks of life on our planet. Using their extensive knowledge in this field the BEI presenters will make the connection as to why our community should be leading the effort of sustaining our environment for the benefit of future generations.
“STARTING WITH HEALTH AND WELLNESS"
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM OUR ANCESTORS ABOUT HEALTH AND WELLNESS?
Attending to Mind ,Body, and Soul in all we do.
“If we focus on our health, including our inner health, our self-esteem, and how we look at ourselves and our confidence level, we’ll tend to be healthier people anyway; we’ll tend to make better choices for our lives, for our bodies, we’ll always be trying to learn more, and get better as time goes on.” Queen Latifah, actress and musician
We will be looking at the impact of our recent history on the mental, physical and spiritual conditions facing the global Afrikan community today, the lessons we can learn from our ancestors and the importance of focusing on our health and well being as a means of sustaining our movements going forward.
Indaba activities
OVERVIEW OF HEALTH AND NUTRITION
EXPLORING THE AFRICAN FOOD GUIDE
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE POWER
INTERACTIVE fOOD EXPERIENCE
Honouring Black Scientists and inventors
Our intro to Black History Month will be attended by MP Gary Anandasangaree, to profile ACHA’s contribution to the community.
“When I started, I had to write programs for computers—I had never seen a computer before in my life except in science fiction movies. I made a decision that I was going to learn everything I could about computers, inside and out”
Valerie Thomas, NASA Scientist, Inventor
A Journey examining the achievements of our Scientist and Inventors to understand the principle of IMANI.
“When we say that the ancestors of the Blacks, who today live mainly in Black Africa, were the first to invent mathematics, astronomy, the calendar, sciences in general arts, religion, agriculture, social organization, medicine, writing, technique, architecture; [...] when we say all that we are merely expressing the plain unvarnished truth that no one today can refute by arguments worthy of the name.”
Honouring those who inspire us
“As a man, I undertake to risk annihilation so that two or three truths can cast their essential light on the world.”
― Frantz Fanon,
As we enter black history month, we explore who we are and we honour those who inspire us.
INDABA MOMENT ACTIVITY
CREATIVE SHOW AND SHARE
I AM....CHOOSE AN ANCESTOR, CREATE A COLLAGE TO REPRESENT THE LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM THE , THEN SHARE THE LESSONS
Honouring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
THEME: SANKOFA~OUR JOURNEY TO IMANI
A Journey examining Lessons learned from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to help us understand the principle of IMANI.
“The difference between a dreamer and a visionary is that a dreamer has his eyes closed and a visionary has his eyes open.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.
INDABA MOMENT ACTIVITY
Choosing some key moments in Dr. Martin Luther King's life as well as his words to extract the lessons and messages that they taught us
Kwanzaa Celebration
John Buchan Senior Public School
2450 Birchmount Rd, Scarborough, ON
IMANI
The seventh principle is Imani (Faith) which is essentially a profound and enduring belief in and commitment to all that is of value to us as a family, community, people and culture. Faith is put forth as the last principle as unity is put forth as the first principle for a definite reason. It is to indicate that without unity, we cannot begin our most important work, but without faith we cannot sustain it. Unity brings us together and harnesses our strength, but faith in each other and the Good, the Right, the Beautiful inspires and sustains the coming together and the commitment to take the work to its end.
Preparation for Kwanzaa
“Afrikans must become the primary definers of their own ethnicity and determiners of their own self-perception, character and behavior. This means that Afrikans must develop a robust and wholesome ethnocentrism.” Amos Wilson
We will continue the build up to our KWANZAA celebration on December 9 2023. This preparation will include finalizing the event format, drumming practise , movement and creative activity. It’s never too late to step in. This is a great way to get involved in a community event that’s focused on building a common consciousness.
Preparation for Kwanzaa
When contemporary black families abandon the positive ancestral legacy wherein the cultivation of spiritual practice was a necessary component of self development, they were and are deprived of a primary foundation for the construction of heathy self-esteem”. Bell Hooks
This session will be the first in the build up to our Kwanzaa celebration on December 9 2023 This preparation will include drumming, movement, art and so much more. Join Us!! It’s not too late to step in, you can be a part of this meaningful community event
Week 4 "Nakumbuka" I Remember
Let’s USE OUR CREATIVITY to remember our ANCESTORS
“We honour our ancestors, enrich our lives, and give promise to our descendants. Moreover, through this historic work and struggle we strive to always know and introduce ourselves to history and humanity as a people who are spiritually and ethically grounded”. Maulana Karenga
The Second World War saw considerable growth in how Black Canadians served in the military
(A day to remember the Maafa and to freely and openly give voice to and grievethe trauma of the Maafa and its continued after-effects. )
The MAAFAAdapted from: http://www.remembertheancestors.com
Meaning of the word Maafa: The Maafa is a Kiswahili term for “terrible occurrence” or “great disaster”. It refers to the African Holocaust when millions of African people died making the journey of captivity from the interior of Africa to the shores of America, known as the Middle Passage.
Why it is important to REMEMBER: When we commemorate our ancestors, we understand our conditions better, realize our strengths, and determine solutions for our collective future. These activities help us commemorate and honor the struggle of our ancestors, the continuing struggle of our people worldwide, and encourage and support the hope that is ours. Our ancestors already paid for us, and they provide clues, keys, and instructions for our survival as well as our restoration in the many ways they speak in words and signs and symbols. They suffered for us, lived and died for us, because they loved us so. Let us now love ourselves enough to restore and repair ourselves, to continue to build a brighter future for those who will come after us.
Activity: Nakumbuka Libation, Design symbol with Egyptian Lotus, write a poem or song to an ancestor, creative art work around writing,, Black war veterans video
Supplies: Paper, crayons, lotus template, videos
Week 3, UNDERSTANDING THE PRINCIPLE OF IMANI
“A group or culture that shares a common consciousness empowers both itself and its individual members”. Amos N. Wilson
IMANI: “To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teacher, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle”. Today’s activities will focus attention on the role IMANI plays in our everyday lives, and how we can use this principle to create the future we envision for ourselves.
WE ARE EXCITED TO INTRODUCE OUR DRUM WORKSHOP FOR ALL AGES THIS WEEK, THESE SESSIONS WILL BE LED BY ONE OF ACHA’s ALUMNI.
Week 2, Games and Interactivity Day
Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. They’re what make the instrument stretch — what make you go beyond the norm.
ACHA Programming for 10/28/2023
Today at ACHA, we have an exciting lineup of programming, games, and interactive activities aimed at bringing us together for this shared experience.
IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING RETURNS
welcome to Our new home.
JOHN BUCHAN SENIOR PUBLIC SCHOOL
2450 Birchmount Rd
Scarborough, ON
M1T 2M5
We must self-consciously become and be fathers, mothers, midwives and mentors who constantly give birth to good in the world and who sustain and increase it in the interest of the people and the well-being of the world.
— Maulana Karenga
Attention parents and guardians!
We are thrilled to invite you to register your child for ACHA's highly anticipated in-person programming at the John Buchan Senior Public School. Our engaging and interactive curriculum is carefully designed to foster hands-on learning, encouraging your child's growth, development, and curiosity. Don't let this extraordinary opportunity slip away! Enroll your child today and witness firsthand how ACHA empowers young minds to thrive and flourish. Join us as we embark on an exciting educational journey together!
If you have children that fall into the age groups of 5-12 and 12 -18, it’s well worth taking a look at our hands-on activities, which are designed to keep your child engaged, while creating a safe space for parents and elders in the community to connect and share our history and common issues affecting African Canadian families.
The ACHA journey
Thanksgiving Weekend Hike
THIS IS US
Kicking off this year of IMANI (faith), by connecting with each other in harmony with the changes of the season.
Gathering @ 10.00, Hike starts @ 10.30. Farm visit after hike (optional)
Commune with us at ACHA,s Annual Thanksgiving Weekend Hike. This year we return to Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area. Reservations are recommended, Come dressed for the weather, with walking shoes, water and snacks.
ACHA Community Indaba and Alumni Reunion
LETS RE-CONNECT
COME CELEBRATE COMMUNITY WITH US
A free in person interactive event celebrating community, alumni, members and supporters
Fun activities for all ages with a focus on Afrofuturism, culminating in our ACHA community feast and unity dance. Be sure to register on the Eventbrite link below
FOCUS ON NATION BUILDING
OUR SANKOFA JOURNEY TO KUJICHAGULIA ~ SELF-DETERMINATION
“The economic philosophy of black nationalism only means that our people need to be re-educated into the importance of controlling the economy of the community in which we live, which means that we won't have to constantly be involved in picketing and boycotting other people in other communities in order to get jobs” Malcolm X
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM OUR ANCESTORS ABOUT SELF DETERMINATION AS A NATION?
“Our success educationally, industrially and politically is based upon the protection of a nation founded by ourselves. And the nation can be nowhere else but in Africa” Hon. Marcus Mosiah Garvey
“The core and fundamental quality of our self-determination, reaffirms our right and responsibility to exist as a people, to speak our own special truth to the world and to make our own contribution to the forward flow of human history. To do the opposite is immoral; to do less is dishonorable and ultimately self-destructive”
Molefi Asante, The Afrocentric Ideal, Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1987
In this session we’ll be building on the progression of Self-determination as it shifts from the individual to the community and into the Afrikan nation as a whole.
Thank you to all who joined us for this virtual series on Self-determination. We will be hosting an in person gathering of supporters, friends and alumni, on Saturday May 6th at Tropicana Community Services. More details to follow
FOCUS ON COMMUNITY
OUR SANKOFA JOURNEY TO KUJICHAGULIA ~ SELF-DETERMINATION
"One of the first lessons that I learned and that was very clear to me, was that a community must be organized if that community hopes to achieve and sustain progress, justice and respect". -Dudley Laws
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM OUR ANCESTORS ABOUT SELF DETERMINATION AS A COMMUNITY?
“The contemporary Afrikan American/Canadian community is heir to perhaps the longest tradition of commerce and entrepreneurialism of any group on earth. It is often recalled that the most ancient Afrikan civilizations such as those of Ethiopia and the Nile Valley were founded on economic systems of trade and commerce. The fabled kingdoms of Eastern and Western Afrika were based on commercial enterprise, on monopolies and control over important economic material resources, centers of trade and major trade routes”. - Amos Wilson
We will explore the legacy of self-determination left to us by Afrikan communities both on the continent and in the diaspora. Asking ourselves the question; How do we apply these lessons to our present situation?
“FOCUS ON FAMILY”
OUR SANKOFA JOURNEY TO KUJICHAGULIA ~ SELF-DETERMINATION
"The Black family is understood as the core institution of Black life"
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM OUR ANCESTORS ABOUT SELF DETERMINATION AS A FAMILY?
"The Black family is the enduring atom that has, throughout time, been tested to its limits. Yet it finds a way to remain whole and grow stronger. It’s the seed from which we grow and learn things that ....we must know to survive. The Black family urges each Black person not to settle for survival, but to flourish. The Black family comes through in the work that we do and makes our contributions to the world full of a special type of soul, passion, grace and intelligence."
Black Organization for Leadership & Development (BOLD)
In this session we will delve into the role of the family in the socialization of our offspring and the importance of including elders and ancestors as a vital part of the family circle.
"STARTING WITH SELF"
OUR SANKOFA JOURNEY TO KUJICHAGULIA ~ SELF-DETERMINATION - Attending to Mind ,Body, and Soul in all we do.
“ Anyone who is interested in making change in the world, also has to learn how to take care of herself, himself; themselves” Angela Davis
What impact can radical self care have on the sustainability of our movements?
“I think longevity is important, and not simply individual longevity, it is equally important to recognise that as we develop our movement today we’re creating a terrain for the emergence of new activists and what we do today has an impact on what younger people will be able to do tomorrow. I think we have to imagine ourselves as connected to people who came before us, and those who will come after us” Angela Davis
We will be looking at the impact of our recent history on the conditions facing the global Afrikan community today, and the importance of using “RADICAL SELF CARE” as a means to sustain our movements going forward.