About twenty new arrivals in the Moncton region in New Brunswick are gardening in order to better integrate. This activity, organized by the French-speaking reception and accompaniment center for immigrants in southeast New Brunswick (CAFI), will take place in the Symbiose garden on the University of Moncton campus all summer.
Women, men and children from Morocco, Algeria, Cameroon, Senegal and Haiti have planted seeds for the vegetable garden which will give a harvest later this summer.
At the rate of once a week, they will come back to take care of their cultures until the fall.
This activity allows them to make friends and better understand the culture of the community in which they recently live.
Wahiba Bougeila comes from Algeria. She has lived in New Brunswick for two years and is a volunteer at Abide. She now knows the country and culture better.
I was really impressed by the courage and strength of the Acadians. The story touched me a lot because in fact, coming from a country that has been colonized for several years, it is something that touched me, deeply. And I find it very interesting to make the story known to the newcomers, to understand this difference.
Network to find work and accommodation
Imad Elalami comes from Morocco. He has lived in Acadia since 2022 and held the position of worker in community connections at Abide For two years already.
He indicates that gardening activity allows arrivals to better know the culture and sometimes even find a job
There is a participant who found a position thanks to another participant. And there are other people who have found housing thanks to networking and with exchanges.
For Williamide Deuko, Cameroon, gardening reminds him of his country.
Then it also adds the fact of familiarizing yourself with other nationalities, meeting new people, expanding your social network. The most important thing for integration is to go to others. You must not remain withdrawn at home; You have to go out, look, search.
Williamide Deuko participates in the Cafi community garden in Moncton.
Photo: Radio-chanada / Jimena Vergara
Imad Elalami sees in the gardening activity organized by the Abide A symbolic way for immigrants to take roots on acadian soil.
Our activities are based on networking. It is a way to discover the new community. And I am proud of Abide. With my Culture-Leisirs team and with the whole team of Abide. Really, we are a family and I am proud to work with them.
According to Jimana Vergara’s report
