The love for sharing information, helping people know their options and different ways of doing things that drew Nyango Melissa Nambangi into teaching and later journalism, is also what is behind the creation of MAWA. She became a journalist because of educational approach used in most African countries: “Besides covering the news, sports and entertainment, we teach/inform people about the latest innovations in agriculture, health, etc. We use the audio-visual media to overcome the literacy barrier. We use it to promote primary health care, teach other languages, give women a voice through women’s programming, confront negative cultural practices and promote responsible parenthood, among other things. We sometimes get angry reactions from those who resent any enlightenment on negative practices but that is to be expected.

Serving Africa on this Continent

MAWA to me is a way of serving Africa while out of the African continent: these same women, girls and families we serve will either directly or indirectly impact the development of their home countries, and thus Africa, because of something they learned through MAWA. MAWA is also a tool for working across cultures: we not only work with African women from all nationalities but with other groups that interact with Africans. A big part of MAWA is community and public education. With community education, we educate our African communities on some cultural practices that are causing us more harm than good; on how to live in our new American culture; on what resources are out there for African families, etc.

One of our biggest accomplishments so far is the Culturally Appropriate HIV/AIDS Education for Africans in Minnesota brochure which challenges many of our cultural practices and shows how these practices are endangering our lives under the present circumstances. As a Humphrey Fellow, I learned that: “I can make a difference”. Since then, rather than wait for someone else to tackle the “taboo” subjects, we, MAWA staff and board members, go ahead as long as it concerns African women and as long as we have the required expertise. We surveyed over 160 Africans to prepare this brochure and taboo subject or not, we had them all thinking about HIV/AIDS.

Our public education targets mostly mainstream and other organizations that serve Africans. It deals mostly with cultural barriers in working with Africans and how to overcome them, the strengths of African women, general information about Africa, etc. We believe, and know that there are many good people and organizations out there that work with Africans but are challenged by the lack the cultural competence. So we try to bridge that gap. That is what MAWA means to me: working globally with everyone for the common good.

Lastly, MAWA is a way for us to reach our daughters: the African girl-child is special and her needs that are clearly outlined in The United Nations Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action. With a new culture, new ways and concerns, it is easy to let the girls slip through the cracks. We want to seal those cracks whenever we can. The African girls living in the diaspora are the hope of our African future: we intend to give them all the help and assistance they need to develop their leadership and empower them. Hence our program, AGILE, the African Girls Initiative for Leadership and Empowerment.”

About Nyango Melissa Nambangi

Nyango Melissa is a Sawa from Big Bekondo of the Mbonge clan of the Orokos of Meme Division in the South-West Province of Cameroon. She is a journalist and former News Anchor for Cameroon Television, CRTV. She came to the USA in 1992 as a Hubert Humphrey International Fellow. She holds a Masters Degree in Mass Communications from the University of Minnesota, with a minor in Women’s Studies. Teaching Women Studies courses at the University of Minnesota gave her greater insight into the global nature of women’s issues which makes her receptive to collaborations across cultures. She has certifications in leadership, culturally appropriate communications for Africans, Family Violence advocate training, and HIV/AIDS education. Her other experience includes public speaking, mentorship program coordination, advocate for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, English-French translator/interpreter, and coordinator of an African women’s non-profit organization. Her community involvement includes membership in the Sakerettes-Minnesota (alumni of her alma mater, Saker Baptist College, Victoria, Cameroon), Oroko-USA and several boards of African and mainstream non-profit organizations in the Twin Cities.