Aug 30 La Palabre radio show in studio panelists,John Nuraney MLA Burnaby-Willingdon ,Patience Nzamakunda,Deidre Heim ,Honore Gbedze (DJ KMG),Jenipher Wasike REACH Multicultural Family Services,Jenny Francis MA student at UBC,Bitisho Bembeleza

 On August 30, 2008, a public radio forum sponsored by The Afro News and La Palabre Radio Program aired live on the topic of “Settlement Issues of African Immigrants & Refugees. The panel discussion and call in segment explored the theme of “How can we make Vancouver a better place to live?”

The show was hosted and sponsored by La Palabre’s director and Afro News Publisher, Honore Gbedze.

The show runs weekly on Saturdays in the 11:00 a.m to noon time slot on 96.1 FM in Vancouver. It offers local and international listeners news, interviews, special features and music of interest to Afric peoples, their co-workers and friends round the globe.

The special call in show featured guest panelists: Dr. Charles Quist-Adade, Professor of Sociology and Geography at Kwantlen and UBC  (phone in), John Nuraney, MLA Burnaby-Willingdon,  Jenipher Wasike, REACH Multicultural Family Services, Patience Nzamakunda, a Vancouver refugee claimant, Bitisho Bembeleza, a government assisted refugee and  Jenny Francis, MA student at UBC, author of forthcoming HRSDC report: African  Immigrants/Refugees' Experiences of Housing & Homelessness in Greater Vancouver.

 Panel participants highlighted both the debt to the Canadian humanitarian efforts and then the difficulties experienced by refugees once they are beyond the initial rescue on their arrival and long term.

 In this feature The Afro News presents a distillation of the radio show’s content. In addition, there is information shared by three individuals involved with the people, process and policy associated with government assisted refugees (GAR) on a daily basis.

All foreign arrivals may look the same to Canadians who have established themselves in the country for years or generations. New arrivals may be perceived as immigrants. They may be seen with the same eye and therefore expectations of adaptation – no matter their race, colour, status, health and most critically the conditions of their uprooting. To immigration and community workers, however, there are very clear and present differences.

“The lot of the refugee looks far different from that of the independent, educated and skilled immigrant who has come by choice,” says Jenipher Wasike, advocate and outreach worker with REACH Community Services.

The immigrant of our imagination may have varied financial power but they have arrived on their own will. In the main, says Wasike, “they have left their country of origin seeking change, a better life and opportunities. Perhaps they speak English or French and are eager to apply themselves by their own will and decision.”  

Refugees seek protection in dire conditions. It is not their ambition to leave their home lands and families.

While it is understood that all ‘transplants’ have personal, professional and physical challenges of resettlement, it’s the nameless others who come as refugees – specifically – government assisted refugees or GARs on which we are going to shed light.

Wherever an assisted refugee’s journey might have started – a harsh discriminatory situation in their home country, displaced persons’ camps or at the heart of a war torn area - as soon as they land in Canada they are immediately vulnerable to a new slate of challenges.

“Once in Canada, the government needs to address refugee needs with specialized knowledge of this population for customized versions of mainstream programs,” says Wasike.

James Bahinguza is the general manager of the Ugandan Tourism Board, a state-operated agency, and he believes African nations must look further afield to attract foreign visitors. "There is need for strong marketing of tourism to the world,” said Bahinguza on a recent fact-finding mission to Vancouver in August. “Canada is one of the nations where we need to promote ourselves more.”

The five East African countries, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, are collectively focused on attracting more North Americans to Africa. “Canadians travel everywhere and have a friendly reputation that precedes them,” said Bahinguza during his visit. “East African economies are developing very quickly, and part of that development requires expanding our tourist base.”

Uganda has exciting tourist attractions in all regions of the landlocked country, and have good reason to be proud of what the country can offer, explained Bahinguza. “Just as Canada is eager to attract visitors, Uganda is open for business,” said Bahinguza. “ By taking action on the strategies that are best for East African nations, and mobilizing a collective effort, we can help make our tourism as active and successful for us as any in the past.”

He said Canadians can look forward to aggressive action in promoting East African tourism. “Canadians understand that the challenges facing the African tourism industry span the continent and are not restricted to any one area,” stated Bahinguza. East African countries held their first common exhibition at the World Travel Market in The United Kingdom last year, and expect to do the same in North America in the future.

Situated at the geographical heart of the African continent, Uganda has long been a cultural melting pot, as evidenced by the 30-plus different indigenous languages belonging to five distinct linguistic groups, and an equally diverse cultural mosaic of music, art and handicrafts. Transitional to the East African savannah and the western rainforests, Uganda is Africa’s most complete birdwatching destination, with more than 1,000 species recorded. Uganda's other star attraction is the endangered mountain gorilla

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