IECC is organizing the "Cultural Days Against Racism and Discrimination, Obstacles to Canadian Diversity and Citizen Participation" from September 1, 2021 to September 19, 2021 at the Marriot Harbourfront Hotel in Halifax.  Attendees from New Brunswick will be participating remotely via Zoom, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and Instagram.

This project responds well to the challenges related to Canadian cultural diversity in the maritime, which is confronted with racism and systemic discrimination, which prevent young black immigrants from successfully integrating into society and participating in the economic development of their local communities.

These events will promote Canadian cultural diversity and foster positive interaction between members of different racial, religious and ethnic communities through cultural and sporting activities such as the African Folk Dance Festival, the Music Festival, the African fashion show, conferences and workshops for young people and the school soccer tournament which will involve participants from diverse cultural communities.

These activities will give participants the opportunity to exchange ideas, talk about culture and ethnic identity, showcase their cultural riches and promote their integration and participation in Canada. There is in this region a need for artistic expression among the populations of black immigrants, both in its professional, amateur and popular forms, and these activities will allow this dialogue of cultures, the mixing of races, religions, languages ​​and cultural values.  Cultural Days Against Racism and Discrimination activities will also foster discussions on multiculturalism, diversity, racism and discrimination in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to promote intercultural and interfaith understanding and to encourage the full participation of people. black youth to Canadian society.

IECC remains convinced that young black immigrants are capable of autonomy and creativity and can take their responsibilities if given the chance to express themselves through these cultural days, to interact positively with members of different cultural and ethnic communities. and religious and to establish a dialogue because cultural citizenship contributes to the construction of personal identity and to the formation of more engaged citizens in their community.

Article 22 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights refers to cultural rights as being indispensable for the dignity and free development of the personality. Article 27 (1) stipulates that everyone has the right to participate freely in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to participate in scientific progress and its benefits. The International Convention on the Rights of the Child signed and ratified by Canada - Article 31 (2) also declares that States Parties respect and agree to promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life . Therefore, the true development of young people can only be effective if we consider creativity, diversity and capacity building to be fundamental keys to their integration, participation and success. It is within this framework that IECC organizes the “Cultural Days against Racism and Discrimination, Obstacles to Canadian Diversity and Citizen Participation”.

By organizing these activities, IECC's goal is to place the cultural participation of black youth at the center of attention, as youth engagement is a societal issue that needs to be addressed in the workplace, education , justice, health and other government sectors, where racism and discrimination continue to exist. Each year Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario welcome large numbers of black immigrants from Africa, who eventually move to other Canadian provinces to settle where they can integrate, find a job. good paid job and participate successfully in the economy. Black Nova Scotians are even more privileged by privileges offered by provincial legislations than other black Africans with an immigrant background. It even intensifies the discrimination between black communities in Nova Scotia. These events will give a preponderant place to the arts and culture as privileged tools of rapprochement and intercultural dialogue of all the members of different communities.