by Dr. Galal Ali
Mandate, mission and/or objectives of organisation
SCAO is non-for profit organization registered under Corporations Directorate of undustry Canada with # (424342-1-M) as a social activities community based with a membership open to all Sudanese & their spouses, landed immigrants, refugees and students who residing in the NCR who believes in and work towards the following objectives of SCAO:
- Enhance and further the cultural and social life within the community of Canadians of Sudanese Origin.
- Cultivate and maintain Sudanese customs and traditions without clash with the mainstream Canadian Community,
- Engage in various sport and recreational activities,
- foster understanding and cooperation with other communities and the multicultural heritage of Canada
- Celebrate the Sudanese heritages and pass it on to the new generations and Canadian society at large.
- Provide social and settlement services to new Sudanese immigrants, refugees, and students to enhance their better understanding and integration in the Canadian society.
- Develop and provide program and services for women, children, youth, seniors, and persons with special needs.
Eligibility for membership
2.01 Membership Conditions
Subject to the articles, there shall be two classes of members in the Corporation, namely, Class A members and Class B members. The board of directors of the Corporation may, by resolution, approve the admission of the members of the Corporation. Members may also be admitted in such other manner as may be prescribed by the board by resolution. The following conditions of membership shall apply:
Class A Members
- Class A voting membership shall be available only to qualified adult individuals who are 18 years of age or older, Canadian citizens of Sudanese origin or permanent residents of Canada of Sudanese origin, or spouses thereof have applied and have been accepted for Class A voting membership in SCAO shall be a resident of the National Capital Region of Ottawa.
- The term of membership of a Class A voting member shall be annual, subject to renewal in accordance with the policies of the Corporation.
- As set out in the articles, each Class A voting member is entitled to receive notice of, attend and vote at all meetings of members and each such Class A voting member shall be entitled to one (1) vote at such meetings.
Class B Members
- Class B non-voting membership shall be available only to qualified individuals: Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada of Sudanese origin under the age of 18, refugees and international students of Sudanese origin of any age, who have applied and have been accepted for Class B non-voting membership in the Corporation shall be a resident of the National Capital Region of Ottawa.
Past, current and future programs and projects:
- Money_Management
- NON-VIOLENT PARENTING
- TIPS_ON_SURVIVING_THE_SQUEEZE
- SCAO GOOD PARENTING CAMPAIGN
- 25 WAYS TO TALK SO YOUR CHILDREN WILL LISTEN
- The scope of SCAO activities include, but not limited to the following:
- Holding or facilitating, from a neutral stand, conferences, seminars, workshop about a Sudanese or a Canadian national issue.
- Commemorating and celebrating national and religious events such as Sudan Independence Day, Canada Day, October and April Uprisings of Sudan, Eids, Christmas and the New Year.
- Sponsoring, supporting, and encouraging artistic works and performances of diverse views (i.e. poem, play, film etc.).
- Issuing media releases or communiqués regarding a Sudanese or a Canadian national issue or current national event(s).
- Participating in humanitarian relief efforts and fundraising, as determined from time to time by the Board the Association
Successes and challenges
The Community stay united and supportive to new comers to Canada and to Ottawa, connected with other communities in Ottawa and participating/contributing to some extend to Ottawa wide community.
Challenges are difficulties to separate political from social lives, this issue is the core of dispute among all communities from developing countries
Names of current executive committee, or board of directors
Galal Ali, President
Hassan Abdelsalam, Vice President
Fadil Ihimir, General Secretary
Musa Ali, Conflict Resolution Officer
Social, health, and events activities team:
Nahis Alawad,
Selma Hassan,
Amira Ali,
Awad Ibrahim, Youth Coordinator and Youth activities Officer
Contact info: phone, e-mail, web site
613-261-0835, SCAO.ca
About the writer
Dr. Galal Ali is President of Sudanese-Canadians Association of Ottawa
