The New Hampshire African Community Center, located in Manchester, is a non-profit organization committed to the integration “of all Refugees and Immigrants of African descent into the social, cultural, economic and political fabric of New Hampshire while maintaining their culture of origin.”
Managed by Mariatou Scott, executive director, and Zephanie Byilingiro, program director, the center’s stated mission is to facilitate the integration process by offering programs that help overcome language and technology barriers, aid the integration of African culture into the American lifestyle while maintaining an individual’s sense of identity, offer economic and emotional support, teach skills that improve living conditions, reduce social isolation and develop a social networking community.

Manchester is a federally designated refugee resettlement area. Program director Zephanie Byilingiro said NHACC programs are available to Africans statewide and that some program participants have come from the Seacoast.

This past year, NHACC offered the African community computerized office skills courses, an intensive English as a second language course and an office simulation course where a virtual company was run by program participants. In conjunction with Training, Inc., a national United Way program designed to assist low-income individuals obtain living-wage employment, NHACC participants were provided internships with Training, Inc. business partners. In the coming year, the center intends to provide an African day care, which will allow mothers of young children to seek employment or attend English language classes.

One of the ways the NHACC intends to reduce cultural isolation within the African community is to find a way to create or promote an African restaurant in New Hampshire. According to Zephanie Byilingiro, the one thing that recent African immigrants and refugees consistently say they miss while living in New Hampshire is the lack of good, authentic African food. Another way is to promote African cultural activities. This past week, the NHACC put on the fifth annual African Caribbean Festival in Manchester, featuring African dance troupes, music and crafts.

To learn more about the New Hampshire African Community Center programs or volunteer opportunities, call 603-627-7557 or go the NHACC Web site www.nhacc.net.