Highlighting a PAN Member: Afro-Canadian Positive Network of BC

We are living through important times- times that are shining the light on systemic racism impacting many people’s lives and times where we can no longer ignore anti-Black racism in our communities. PAN has been doing a lot of reflecting on its role in amplifying and supporting the voices of our colleagues of colour. And in light of this, we wanted to share and highlight the amazing work of one of our member organizations: Afro-Canadian Positive Network of BC, known as ACPNet.

ACPNet was founded in November 2009 and became a registered non-profit and charity in 2012. ACPNet is entirely peer-run, and as people living with and affected by HIV, they are able to provide peer support and advocacy that is informed by lived and living experiences. They work tirelessly to challenge the stigma and discrimination experienced by many of their clients, and to address systemic racism in BC’s healthcare system. Though based primarily in Surrey, ACPNet’s five volunteer staff support clients across BC.

ACPNet’s work involves providing peer support, health education, and advocacy for people of African descent living in BC who are living with or are affected by HIV. Volunteer staff are experienced with the Canadian health and immigration systems, which helps them to connect with people who may not be currently accessing services and need culturally appropriate supports. They provide a wide range of services – anywhere from one-on-one HIV education to accompanying their clients shopping at African stores.  The atmosphere they strive to provide is one of a “home-away-from-home” – they work to support their clients by meeting them where they are at, including providing services in many different languages, such as Swahili, Amharic, and Arabic. Some words to describe ACPNet’s approach include “people driven” and “family oriented” – adapting and changing in order to meet the needs of their clients and their loved ones and providing tailored support. ACPNet continues to do this work amidst COVID-19, including partnering with AIDS Vancouver that allows ACPNet to provide food hampers to their clients.

 

Meet some of the people of ACPNET:

Patience

Image courtesy of Patience

Patience Magagula is the current Executive Director and one of five co-founders of ACPNet, which started in November 2009. Prior to her migration to Canada, Patience got her diploma in education from University of Zimbabwe. She also holds a diploma in Social Service. Among her scholarly awards are over 27 Certificates in different courses with mental health and leadership. She has actively worked with refugees and immigrants from south of the Sahara, where has successfully accepted, inspired, and involved the racialized persons from Africa. She is a voice for the voiceless as she pursues their cause.

As an advocate, her sense of social justice with a knowledge of the sub-Saharan African women’s social terrain is combined with a sense of compassion and ambition that stimulates others to carry on the development work with her. Patience says, “the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS cannot deter me but push me on to go into my community to find marginalized women in hiding so that disparities they face are reduced”. She believes that with continuing encouragement and provision of even the littlest of cultural norms can make these women in hiding to come out. Patience’s passion is supporting and improving the lives of refugees and immigrants living with HIV/AIDS.

Patience is a parent and has been long-time survivor of living with HIV. She serves on many other HIV organization boards/committees.

 

Image courtesy of Jean

Jean

Jean is one of the founding members of Afro-Canadian Positive Network of BC. He came to Canada in 2009. He has served as the Assistant Executive Director since 2014 and doubles as the Community Mobilizer. He volunteered as the Awareness Coordinator from 2010 -2014. He wrote and directed poems about HIV and stigma. Jean sits on the steering Committee of CHABAC (The Canadian HIV/AIDS Black, African and Caribbean Network) as he represents the CHABAC hub in the Pacific region.  Jean dreams of social equality and a stigma-free community.

 

 

 

ACPNet is facing significant challenges in providing services to their members and clients because of a lack of core funding. You may have noticed references to volunteer staff – ACPNet does not currently have funds to pay any of the people working at the organization, which severely limits the services they are able to provide to a very important priority population. The organization is also facing other resourcing challenges.

 

If you would like to support this organization doing important work with African newcomers in BC please considering donating through their CanadaHelps web page.

We applaud ACPNet for the work of their five incredible volunteers! We at PAN look forward to continuing to work with ACPNet as they serve and support their clients.