Demonstrating their commitment to their new home, members of the Nigerian Association of Portage la Prairie rolled up their sleeves this past weekend for a community cleanup initiative.
Targeting the green space around the Portage Homestead Co-Op and extending towards the nearby tracks, approximately 14 volunteers collected several bags of litter on Saturday morning.
The effort stemmed directly from the association's core mission to contribute positively to the city that welcomed them.
Secretary Adijat Ayilara emphasized the group's motivation, expressing gratitude for the warm reception received in Portage.
"The community has been a wonderful place for us to settle," Ayilara states. "We'll take the initiative in any way that we can to contribute, one way or the other. We are willing to do that, and that’s why we seized the opportunity to do this cleaning service.
Building bridges through action
The cleanup was more than just picking up trash; it was a tangible step towards deeper integration and fostering connections with the wider Portage community.
Association member Oluwabukola Ogundele highlighted this goal. "With the community clean up, I think it's a way of giving back to society and for us to strengthen our social bonds; to be included in society," Ogundele explains. "[We want to] foster a relationship between us... so that we can mingle without feeling distant, without feeling like we're in a strange land and without [the people of Portage] feeling like you've welcomed strange people into your country."
Oluwasegun Akincajuwa, another association member, reinforced this sentiment by sharing the group's foundational vision.
"Our vision is to be a beacon of unity, cultural pride, mutual support, fostering the thriving Nigerian community that enriches the fabric of Portage la Prairie through integration, inclusivity, and engagement," Akincajuwa states.
"One of the things we pride ourselves in is community service, because the city of Portage has welcomed us as immigrants and we're finding it to be a home. We want to give back to the community; that's one of our tenets, and that's why we did what we did."
A Commitment to continued contribution
While the cleanup yielded approximately four full garbage bags – a testament to the city's overall cleanliness, noted by the volunteers – the association views this as just the beginning. They actively seek more ways to contribute.
Ayilara confirms their intention to make community service a regular part of their activities.
"We plan to do this any time we see there is a need to do it," she says. "Not only community cleaning exercises. Any other opportunities we can seize to give back to our community, we are willing to do that."
The Nigerian Association of Portage la Prairie's weekend effort exemplifies the spirit of newcomers actively investing in and enriching their adopted community, strengthening the bonds that make Portage a welcoming home for all.
