About us

Tumaniyi Association was founded to assist newcomers navigating the settlement process in the region of Waterloo. Many immigrants come from collective cultures where extended families and long-standing friendships play crucial roles in daily life and wellbeing. On arrival, immigrants and refugees sustain not only the loss of family, friends, familiar surroundings, and cultures; they also lose spiritual and cultural capital such as community activities, celebrations, and festivals. One of the major goals of this Association is to create a sense of belonging by bringing newcomers (who have a shared history of immigration) together to build support networks to mitigate loneliness which is a factor in mental health struggles. We organize parties for new families, serve culturally relevant foods, and provide information about available services to reduce stress and enhance successful settlement. Such information includes locating neighborhood Community Centers, identifying available supports such as Healthy Smiles, Access Cards (among others) that provide funding for activities and programs.

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