It used to be called CAE. Today its new name is Services d’Etablissement pour les Nouveaux Arrivants Francophones (SENAF), known in English as, Settlement Services for Francophone Newcomers (SSFN).

The Community Believes SENAF Deserves a Second Chance…

In Canada, murderers, rapists, and serial criminals get another chance, right? Is it fair to ask for another chance for the Francophone Newcomer Welcome Centre, in French, Centre d’accueil et d’établissement du nord de l’Alberta, or in short, CAE, now called SENAF or SSFN, a community building organization being punished for the actions of its former employee and former Board? Community members believed so and came out to show their support to the new Board and a new beginning. 

The Best of the Best Selected to Lead CAE New Look

Some of the finest members of the community, many of whom were welcomed by CAE when they came to Canada as newcomers, stepped forward to ensure the continuity of the centre that laid the foundation for their Canadian dreams and determined to help build the dreams of others through their role on the Board of CAE new look. Five women and three men will oversee the centre; a Medical Doctor, an Accountant, a Layer, a Social Worker, a Teacher, a Journey Man, a Youth Worker, a University Teaching Assistant, and other community builders now makeup the new face of CAE, in charge of the re-branding efforts of the organization.

Why Punish Innocent People for the Sins of Others?

The main actors involved in the sexual harassment case that brought embarrassment to CAE are gone, and the former Board and Executive Director too is gone. Through CAE New look Project, the expertise built over time, the community support accumulated, and the financial excellence to manage such a huge sum of money will be given an additional boost with this new credible, competent and respected Board, changes in the bylaws, a revised vision, and mission statements, a very strong policy on sexual harassment, and new reason for the 30 hardworking staff to get out of bed everyday and go out to welcome newcomers to Canada.

30 Families; Brothers, Sisters, Children, Neighbours, Colleagues, and 2,000 Newcomers Need You

Supporters and sympathizers of CAE have creatively come up with these thoughts to share with you:

If you truly believe that everyone deserve another chance, then support CAE New look.

If you are touched by how the children of the 30 families with survive this winter while their parents suffer because of accusations of another person, then CAE needs your voice today.

If you believe that the treatment of CAE is different from that of other organizations, then answer the call.

If you believe that an organization with no trace of financial mismanagement deserves another chance after cleaning up its past, then join in.

Why Does CAE Matter and Why Should you Care?

CAE has grown from 45K to 2 Million Dollars Budget in 15 years and this growth has come with support from the community members like you, skills from the hard working team, and an effective strategy to welcome 2,000 newcomers every year and help them settle, integrate, and make Alberta home from two locations in Edmonton, one in Grand Prairie, and one in Fort McMurray. This, the organization has accomplished with no trace of financial mismanagement or wrongdoing.

SENAF Board of Directors

President: Dr. Sarah Allegba

Members:

Clementine Sawadogo
Moumouni Sawado
Deous Biyoulou
Patrice Waka
Sariette Banyk Kwendja Tanda
Mary Ngembu
Ester Buhendwa

At the end of the Extraordinary General Assembly of 26 November 2018. Here are the members of the new board of Directors of SENAF (former CAE). 

Chair: Dr Sarah Aleba MD
She is a medical doctor from the Faculty of Medicine in Abidjan (Ivory Coast).
Has a degree in management of organizations.
She was chief medical officer of the Gonzagueville Health Centre and director.
Medical Consultant at l’ ASECNA (Ivory Coast International Airport)
She is the founder of a charity association called Sarah Ivory Coast who works for the welfare of the community.
Here she is a broker at multicultural health brokers for the last 5 year and works closely with the Francophone community.

Members

Clementine Sawadogo (Social worker)
I am a social worker registered at the Alberta College of social workers. I have been employed as a social worker at Boyle Street Community Services Edmonton since August 2018.
I am the current president of the Burkina Faso community in Alberta.
As university degrees I have:
-a bachelor’s degree in Social work from Laurentian University, Ontario, Canada
-a Master’s degree in Project management from the School of Advanced Business Studies, Burkina Faso
I also have a health care certificate from NorQuest College Alberta, Canada

Sawadogo Moumouni (Journeyman insulator at NAIT)
I’m married and father of four children.
I hold a Master’s degree in Audit and management control of the African Institute of Professionalization and Management, Burkina Faso. I also have a certificate in business Administration from Laval University, Québec City.
I am a graduate of the Treasury controllers of the National School of Financial management in Burkina Faso.
I worked at the Ministry of Economy and Finance in Burkina Faso where I was the chief collector and receiver for the Municipality and the Province for more than 12 years.
Currently, I am training as a Journeyman insulator at NAIT.

Deous Biyoulou Boyahou (Teacher)
Education:-Master 2: Chemistry of inorganic materials (obtained at the University Marien Ngouabi)
– Bachelor of Chemistry
-Undergraduate II: Physics and chemistry
-Bachelor: In secondary education (obtained at the University of Alberta)
Currently, I am a high school teacher. I have experience in the laboratory working as a quality controller in a brewery and a sugar refinery in Brazzaville. I am also a member of the Pastoral Council of the St Thomas Aquinas Parish here in Edmonton. I would like to share my expertise with the Centre d’accueil (CAE).

Patrick WAKA (Assistant Teacher)
I am currently a teaching assistant at Maurice Lavallée’s School and Vice-President of a nonprofit association Kimvuka friendship.
I worked as a French instructor at the University of Alberta (Campus Saint Jean) from 2015 to 2017. I was representing students in a structure called equity, diversity, inclusion and also a student advisor in ACfas-Alberta.
I have a Bachelor of Laws option: International economic Law (University of Kinshasa) and a master’s degree in Canadian studies (University of Alberta)
I like to serve the community, because man evolves better in a group rather than in an isolated way

Mary Ngembu, CPA, CGA (Accountant)
Meticulous and results oriented internationally recognized accounting and finance professional with experience of over eight (8) years in various positions of Accounting and Financial Audit, who undertakes complex assignments meeting tight deadlines and delivering superior performance; applies strong financial planning and analytical skills to inform senior management of key trends and reduce company expenditure. Core competencies include: • IFRS, GAAP and SOX reporting

• Budgeting and variance analysis, Corporate Reporting, Financial Analysis, Cost Accounting, Statistical analysis, Strategic planning, Audit, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll

• Infor Distribution SX.e, Lawson’s Business Intelligence (LBI), MS Office, Simply Accounting, QuickBooks, Case ware, SAP, Taxprep , ADP, DTMax, Profile

• Bilingual

Sariette Banyk Kwedja Tanda (International Trained Lawyer)
She is a Qualified Legal Assistant with over 4 years of legal experience, a Certified Mediator, a Court Worker, an International Trained Lawyer’s student and a soon to be Certified Entrepreneur. She is the owner and the CEO of ALSF. Alternative Legal Service Firm Incorporated and her company is providing Non lawyer-legal agents, Assistance in Self representation, legal drafting, legal information, Commissioning of Oaths and Virtual legal assistant services. She is a member of the Association of Francophone Lawyers and a member of Canadian Bar Association.

Esther Buhendwa (Child and Youth Care Worker)
I was born in Congo/Kinshasa and move to Canada/Edmonton in 2011. I am holder of a diploma in disability studies. I’m currently working as a child and youth care worker with Catholic social services.
Secretary of Congolese Society of Edmonton since 2016
Secretary and board members of the Congolese Society of Edmonton since 2016
Volunteer as newcomer’s translator with Catholic social services: immigration and settlement for 2 years