The Importance of Community to the African Immigrant Experience
The Importance of Community to the African Immigrant Experience
Africans are exploring better paths as there is an influx of people moving and finding greener pastures in other countries. The exodus of people from African countries leaves some people depressed as they try to grasp the new country they have entered.
According to statistics, Nigeria, one of the most populous countries in Africa, the net migration rate for Nigeria is -0.3 migrants/1000 population, meaning that more people are leaving the country than moving into it (UNDESA, 2020).
Though people leave to find greener pastures, the new environment, demand of a new place, and the overall feeling of being alone in a new place leave people feeling bereft, a reason why the Nigerian Professional’s Group community was created for Nigerians moving to the diaspora.
In this article we want to explore the importance of community and how it instantly transforms the African immigrant experience
The Importance of Community and How it Transforms the African Immigrant Experience
As stated above some people after leaving the familiar climate, familiar faces, and familiar economy they are used to, acclimatizing to a new environment may be hard. Infact, in a study done by Pubmed they discovered a 15.6% increase in depression amidst migrants.
Here are some reasons why if you’re in the diaspora you should belong to a community.
- Community helps to preserve good health
- Community helps to preserve culture
- It provides a platform for networking
- Community helps to spiral growth
- It creates a sense of belonging
Community helps to preserve good health
In some places in the diaspora, Africans are subjected to racial discrimination, injustice, and prejudice, and this can pose a problem to the health of people in the diaspora. But when Africans belong to a community, it can help counter the effect of the social injustice that the blacks face. Community can help be a cushion against all the hurdles that Africans face. When there is a safe space to talk about problems, where there is empathy, where stories are shared, where advice is shared, it bolsters the quality of life of the immigrants. For instance, in the Nigerian Professional Community, we consistently discuss issues, challenges and also celebrate our wins together as a community, it has become a safe space for Nigerians in the United State.
Community helps to preserve culture
When Africans in the diaspora belong to a community, it helps to transform their likely unfamiliar experience by helping them preserve their culture. Being surrounded by familiar faces and culture helps to boost one’s morale. Also, hearing familiar language, seeing fashion trends that reminds one of home can help immigrants. At NPG, through our annual Gala, we promote our culture and tradition through our attire, our food and many more.
It provides a platform for networking
A picture of people networking.
Source: NPG
Another advantage of community and how it changes the immigrant experience is that community provides a platform of networking. Networking provides several advantages for Africans in the diaspora, and one of the biggest reasons why networking is beneficial is that 70% of the jobs are not even advertised on job websites and 85% of the vacancies are filled via referrals. Community provides a platform for people in the diaspora to network, get jobs, meet new people, make new friends and even make new families. Recently, at NPG Inaugural conference we held, an NPG member through networking, got a job. These are ways we foster networking in the community through quality events.
Community helps to spiral growth
Networking and meeting people in the diaspora community who love and feel your pain can give room for growth. When job opportunities are shared, advice on dealing with social injustice and so much more are shared, it helps to spiral growth amongst immigrants.
It creates a sense of belonging
Source: NPG
Lilian, having stayed in the U.S for a short while, still felt lonely, there was no family to lean on, no close friends to discuss with, and worse it left her feeling moody. But all changed when she met NPG, NPG gave her a family instantly and helped her in the Covid-19 period.
The story highlighted above tells how a community can instantly improve the overall experience of an Immigrant, belonging to a community creates a sense of belonging.
Belonging to a community can transform your immigrant experience and that is why you should belong to a community. If you want to break through loneliness, you can join the NPG family here.
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