United Way Community Service Award

John Webster, B.C. Practice Leader for PricewaterhouseCoopers and United Way of the Lower Mainland Board Chair, presented the W.J. VanDusen Community Service Award to Amos Kambere, founder of UMOJA Operation Compassion Society.

Amos Mubunga Kambere came to Canada with his wife and sons as a refugee from Uganda in 1992. The struggles and challenges he faced in transitioning into Canadian society prompted him to help others facing similar challenges, especially those from the black African community. He started working with immigrants and refugees as a volunteer in Vancouver before moving to Surrey to continue his work.

Amos started by reaching out to new immigrants out of his own home, providing voluntary support, information and even short-term housing and financial aid to those in need.

In 2002 Amos founded the UMOJA Operation Compassion Society. It provides support services for African refugees, immigrants and newcomers throughout the Lower Mainland who are isolated and not accessing the services they need to successfully integrate into Canada.

As the board chair, Amos has dedicated endless volunteer hours into meeting with politicians, community agencies and groups, funders and media to raise the profile of the needs facing refugee children, youth and families, and to create partnerships that will sustain the society and the programs it provides.

Through his tireless dedication, Amos has challenged agency, community and political representatives to revisit their policies, procedures and programs to make changes that are more welcoming to black African families.

He encourages African families to move beyond their tribal and national biases and come together as a black community to contribute to Canadian society through UMOJA. His volunteer work also includes developing the Micro soccer program at Britannia Community centre and work as a board member with the Broadway Church. Amos has been actively working with SFU under the focus on Africa working group by organizing symposiums to re-focus Aid to Africa basing on UN millennium Goals.

Please click here to read a copy of his award acceptance speech