Early childhood education students say NSCC Africentric program has changed their lives

Students in the Nova Scotia Community College's Africentricearly childhood education program gathered on Friday to celebrate the end of a two-year program.

A student-led ceremony opened with drumming and music. Students then spoke in front of their peers and exhibited artwork and coursework.

The Africentric program aims to encourage more Black students to become early childhood educators.Students learn through the perspectives of the African Nova Scotian community and how to provide culturally responsive care.

"It was [the] best experience of my life," said student Araba Pittet. "We got so many relationships out of it that are ... lifelong."

Pittet wanted to become an early childhood educator because she's always worked with kids.

"My mom always had kids over and I would always just ... gravitate toward them," she said."I felt more comfortable talking to kids than adults,so it was just kind of something that I loved."

For Lariah Jordan, being part of the Africentricgrouphas been life-changing.

"It's opened up so many different doors for my career, but also I've gotten to know myself so much better," Jordan said.

"I feel like I have a newfound confidence from this class."

Jordan and Pittet arepart of the second cohort of the program. Students from that class will officially graduate in June.

Faculty lead Justin West said Friday's ceremony was held in the spirit of Ubuntu meaning community togetherness.

An Africentric program is "a community anda celebration of who we are as Black people."

West has hopes for the NSCC programbeyond just improvedrepresentation forBlack early childhood educatorsin child-care centres.

"I'll be able to see them in policymaking and other places like that ... and hopefully [they'll] take my job and teach the rest of the cohort moving forward."

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of.You can read more stories here.