Power in unity, strength through community

How the Afro-Caribbean Student Association fosters connections and culture away from home

The Afro-Caribbean Student Association (ACSA) is a student-led and faculty-supported club at TRU that has experienced significant growth over the past year. The club provides a home away from home for students and a safe place where they can connect and find support on the shared experiences of students of African and Caribbean demographics. The club was established in 2023 by two former students from Ghana and the Bahamas and currently supports 160 registered members.

Data from a recent TRU integrated planning and effectiveness enrolment report published on the TRU website indicates that approximately 4,670 international students from over 120 countries participated in the 2023 fall enrolment at the Kamloops Campus. Students from Africa and the Caribbean represent a growing portion of this total.

Current ACSA co-president Bensley Pierre, a fourth-year international student from Turks and Caicos, has been with the club since its inception, originally serving as the community chair. Pierre describes the club as “a place where students can find other like-minded people, mentorship and support” in a setting that also fosters connection to their culture while they are away from home. He says, “International students can feel lonely when they first arrive at TRU, and the ACSA helps by creating community away from home. Culture is a strong part of this community, with all of the events planned by the club incorporating some aspect of culture, aimed to preserving it while the student is away from home.”

While detailed club demographics are unavailable, Pierre states that “most members are African, mainly from Nigeria and Ghana.” Membership in ACSA is open to anyone of all heritages. Current membership is dominated by students, however there are members and participants from the broader Kamloops community. Members are both connected by culture and a common care about experiences impacting Afro-Caribbean students.

Being isolated from their families far from home is a common struggle for students. Bringing everyone together for regularly scheduled club events helps to combat the feelings of isolation and loneliness. The club promotes action and awareness, according to Pierre.

“There is power in unity,” Pierre said. “Simply being able to share experiences in the club’s safe environment can often help alleviate some of the concerns facing members on campus.”
While Pierre does not indicate that there any significant negative experiences had by Afro-Caribbean students at TRU, he highlights “the benefits of members being able to share their campus and broader Kamloops experiences within the safe ACSA environment.”

Late last year, the club hosted a networking event on campus for Black students looking for jobs in the Kamloops area. The event had Black TRU faculty and professors speak about their experiences working in Kamloops and advice they have for Black people to better navigate Canada’s current working environment for people of colour. Around 20 students came to learn from the event speakers and ask questions.

Pierre describes the club as “not only providing a source of fun for members, but also providing education and empowerment opportunities.” The club organizes and hosts several events throughout the year, many of which are in partnership with local Kamloops businesses and organizations and designed to strengthen member’s connection to their community. Among these events, the ACSA partnered with local non-profit organization, Unique Get Together Society (UGTS), to promote Black History month in February last year. Events were held on campus to increase awareness and to connect members with the broader Kamloops community. A three-day art camp was also held in early November, with artist’s work to be displayed in the Kamloops Art Gallery during Black History Month in February.

In addition to working with UGTS, the club has organized and participated in other community networking events designed to inspire members to imagine their future roles in the community of Kamloops, connecting them with local businesses and potential employers. The ACSA partners with the Kamloops Caribbean Society, an organization dedicated to celebrating Afro-Caribbean culture and promoting the achievements and contributions of the Afro-Caribbean community in Kamloops and broader society. They organize events and festivals, including the Kamloops Caribbean Festival, Kamloops Black Film Festival and regular family-oriented gatherings. The ACSA also has strong ties with The Big Jerkk, a local restaurant that specializes in Caribbean food, that often supplies food at ACSA events.

As interest in the club continues to grow more events are being planned to keep members engaged.

More information on the club and how to join can be found on the TRU website.