Ashley (Sustainable Community Aid Network)
So, hi, thank you for joining us for the virtual career fair. Could you start by introducing yourself and telling us about your passion?
Paul Mulangu
Yeah, my name is Paul Mulangu. I’m the executive director of the Centre of Integration for African Immigrants in New Westminister, BC. My passion started out to help the integration of new immigrants in Canada. I speak French and English.
Ashley (Sustainable Community Aid Network)
So how did the idea for the organization start?
Paul Mulangu
The center started when in 2001? When I saw that there’s, there were a lot of Black people in BC, and people didn’t know about Black people. And also, there were a lot of Black people who didn’t have a job, especially some youth. And one day, I asked them why they were always all over in the summer and not going to work; they said they don’t know where to go and they don’t have somebody to do the resume. And since that time is where we start[ed] the center to help people to integrate.
Ashley (Sustainable Community Aid Network)
That’s really nice that you want to help. You saw people that there was a need, and you decided to fill that need and to help everybody; that’s lovely.
So what challenges did you have to overcome when your organization first started?
Paul Mulangu
Oh, you know, the start is always difficult. First, at the time it had been started, there was nobody in the province. First, the people didn’t know about Black people in Vancouver, and also, they didn’t know that Black people speak French. And then the lot of challenge is how to convince the provincial government and also the federal government that there’s a need in the African community and also to have funding, it was a big difficulty as through the time have been going and things starting going OK.
Ashley (Sustainable Community Aid Network)
So what challenges does the organization still face today? Do you still have similar challenges you had at the beginning with funding, or are there any other challenges?
Paul Mulangu
Yeah, you know, there’s that funding problem. It’s always every time, like every day, you need to write a proposal every time you need to have a project. There’s that the challenge also renting, you know, in British Columbia, rent is very high. And every time you can be in those old buildings, they are very cheaper and one time they can say they’re going to demolish it. You need to move, and every time you move, your organization, you have to switch up for the rent. That’s also a big challenge for us.
Ashley (Sustainable Community Aid Network)
So what have you enjoyed most about working with your organization?
Paul Mulangu
Oh enjoying. Even one day, I just found somebody, and he says, “Paul, thank you, I got the job,” “Thank you, I have the housing,” “Thank you, my immigration [went] very well .” If I see the smile of people is what I enjoy because at least you manage to integrate our people in this society.
Ashley (Sustainable Community Aid Network)
It’s lovely that you can like actively see the work that you’re doing and how it has an impact on people. And you can you can like receive appreciate. So what is your organization working on right now like do you have any of the newer programs?
Paul Mulangu
Yeah, you’ve been working on a program, “Connect to Work,” and also another project for the youth is “Thinking Outside the Box .” And also, “Source it Solution” has always been sending that proposal, just waiting for the answer and then also we are doing a recycling program, and also we have a summer job program, and this is what we are working for it now.
Ashley (Sustainable Community Aid Network)
Could you give some more details about the programs, like more specifics?
Paul Mulangu
Thinking Outside the Box is a youth program for helping youth to connect for jobs. It is training where youth train, the youth come for 2 months in the classroom and six months in a training job because a lot of our youth do not have job experience [and] then you are giving them job experience. That is the most exciting. Because what you call thinking outside the box because everybody thinks inside the box. Like, if a new immigrant comes. “so I’m an engineer,” he doesn’t know what kind of engineer, and he doesn’t know how to do things. And here you can be an engineer, and tomorrow, [you] can be and other things; it’s why its called “Thinking outside the box.”
Ashley (Sustainable Community Aid Network)
That sounds really nice. You know, a lot of youth, they’re not, they know they kind of know what they want, but they don’t have the proper guidance to help them. And it’s really lovely that you can provide that for them and help them, which will help them in the long run.
Ashley (Sustainable Community Aid Network)
So what would you say are the qualities that, like you have personal qualities, led you to this point in your life where you work here?
Paul Mulangu
The qualities? What do you say?
Ashley (Sustainable Community Aid Network)
Like personal qualities, like characteristics, like maybe you’re hard-working or like you’re really innovative.
Paul Mulangu
No, I’m a go-getter. I like new challenges. And also, I’m there – I’m always there for people. You know, I’m always there to see the people having the integration process. I’m always there for their problem. I’m always there for us, the African community, especially the Francophone, to be part of Canada, that’s what [I am like].
Ashley (Sustainable Community Aid Network)
So you’re very dependable, people can rely on you, and you’re always there.
Paul Mulangu
Yes, now it’s 20 years. People always call me, and sometimes I always say no, I need to retire couldn’t because every time, [people say], “Paul, this,” “Paul, that .” And that’s yes.
Ashley (Sustainable Community Aid Network)
Do you have any advice you would give to youths interested in your field or those who want to get more involved?
Paul Mulangu
I’m always telling people to love themselves first because if you love yourself, then you can discover yourself, and then if you discover yourself, then you can know what you are capable of doing. Because if you are doing things you love, then you are not going to get bored, and things are going to be good, OK? Because not trying to go to the another like, oh, I want to be like an engineer, maybe we don’t know what it is about, and you don’t know your capability. The first thing is that you need to know about yourself. That’s the most important thing.
Ashley (Sustainable Community Aid Network)
Well, that’s really helpful. It’s lovely. Is there anything else that you’d like to say or add or anything or?
Paul Mulangu
What I want to say is the Sustainability Community [Sustainable Community Aid Network], thank you very much for that encouraging and helping the youth, especially for them to know where they’re going to go. And that to give them that job experience that is the most important thing, because I see the line, you know, the time I put up to say we are looking for youth. We’ve [had] 100 resumes just for one post. You know, it was a really [good] and if things continue like that, [then] this program is the best program for us to have.
Ashley (Sustainable Community Aid Network)
Thank you. I’ll let Obie know that.
Paul Mulangu
OK.
Ashley (Sustainable Community Aid Network)
So thank you very much for doing the virtual career fair with me, and have a great day.
Paul Mulangu
OK.
We want to thank Paul Mulangu for taking the time to do this interview with us. Those interested in the Centre of Integration for African Immigrants can visit their website here: https://www.ciia-ciai.com/ or call them here: (604) 553-0468 or email: Paul@ciia-ciai.com.