Helping to keep Black community members safe during the pandemic
For close to a decade, Luka Atak has been helping fellow Africans adjust to life in Canada through his organization, the Canadian Aweil Youth Association (CAYA). But when the coronavirus hit in 2020, he realized his organization would need additional funds to address the new challenges facing his community — CAYA received that support through the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF).
CAYA received $29,600 through ECSF, provided by Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF), with funding made available through the Government of Canada. Atak, the Executive Director of CAYA, says the funds were essential.
“We are so appreciative that we got that money from the Emergency Community Support Fund,” says Atak. “Without that fund, we wouldn’t be able to do anything. It made a big impact and changed everything.”
The funds allowed Atak to purchase personal protective equipment, such as masks and gloves, so the volunteers at CAYA could continue to check in on families and youth in their community. PPE was also provided to some of the families, who were very fearful of the new virus.
“There was a lot of fear. And we committed ourselves to make sure members of our community located across Waterloo Region was safe,” says Atak.
To help ensure families were safe, Atak and his volunteers arranged to pick up groceries for families, or to take them shopping if they needed something. They also ensured anyone experiencing homelessness was safe.
Having children at home during the pandemic was also stressful, with new technical needs and additional supports required. CAYA volunteers helped to pick up and distribute Chromebooks to families, and provided tutoring support to children.
“Sometimes we would go to different houses to make sure the kids were ok, or we would call them to provide support.”
While Atak is proud of everything CAYA was able to accomplish, he is most proud of the fact that everyone stayed safe.
“We are safe. Nobody lost their life,” he said. “That is Number 1. Number 2: We are proud to be part of a team who are helping community. We know that even a little thing can change somebody’s life.”
Atak also wants to thank leaders across Waterloo Region, including the local and federal government, for stepping up and supporting the Black community.
“They stood up with us, and we thank them a lot.”
To learn more about CAYA and to support their initiatives, visit their website.
Note: This story was written prior to Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation and Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation unifying to become Waterloo Region Community Foundation. Although the story was created by KWCF, we have updated the organization name to WRCF throughout the story.