Sankofa Wellness Center (SWC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit benefit corporation located in Los Angeles, California. SWC's specific purpose is to help communities address the issues that affect their daily lives. These issues include physical and mental health, affordable housing, education, training, and environmental justice.
Sankofa is an African word from the Akan tribe in Ghana. The literal translation of the word and the symbol states: “it is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind.” Sankofa symbolizes the quest for knowledge, and the implication is that the search is based upon; critical examination and intelligent and patient investigation.
Wellness is a modern word that has ancient roots. The fundamental tenets of wellness as both preventive and holistic can be traced back to ancient civilizations. African Spirituality and Healing has been in existence for thousands of years. The first medical papyrus dates back to 2,500 BC, although many people are unaware of its long and glorious history from Kemet (km.t), aka Egypt.
Sankofa’s value system is based on three important principals: COMMUNAL, COOPERATIVE, COLLECTIVE consciousness living and working. Our mission is global and egalitarian, and we aim to improve the lives of those we reach in four areas:.
1. HEALTH AND WELLNESS A Healthy diet of whole foods, exercise and mind-body-spirit balance. We are coordinating with hospitals, medical professionals and other medical agencies to provide updated wellness services to those in underserved communities.
Our goal is to help eliminate the mistrust in the medical profession and create awareness of health issues that affect the masses.
2. EDUCATION The way of Sankofa is to take the finest knowledge of the past to use as the building blocks of the future.
The disparity in science, technology, engineering, and math education and achievement is one that disproportionately impacts underserved students.. Some research has concluded that many educational institutions and their practices are racist and biased.
Our educational programs are taught virtually, and students learn a holistic understanding of algebra as part of the programs.Through public and private schools, our objective is to reestablish the importance of African history. SWC refers to the 3 R’s: RESCUE, RESURRECTION, and REBIRTH of AFRICAN KNOWLEDGE.
3. HOUSING Sankofa is creating affordable housing in underserved communities of people. For decades, many neighborhoods that were predominantly diverse have been gentrified. Eminent domain has also destroyed many of these diverse communities leaving many people without homes and a sense of community.
4. ENVIRONMENTAL A radical and tactical strategy is needed to provide clean air and water for us all. Our natural resources are being depleted, and zero-emissions is the only solution.
At Sankofa Wellness Center we are working in the scientific community to address what is needed to create a better future for our communities.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is a specialized agency of the United Nations dedicated to eradicating poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries:
"COP26 will fail to achieve a lasting impact in the fight against climate change if world leaders continue to neglect the urgent need to invest in adaptation by focusing mostly on mitigation. Investments need to be directed to small-scale farmers in developing countries as they are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss."
"For every 18 dollars spent on mitigation, just one dollar is spent on adaptation. That needs to change. While efforts in mitigation are essential, they will take decades to bear fruit. Insufficient funding for adaptation will have a ripple effect across the world. Failed crops increase hunger and poverty, and trigger more conflicts, forced migration and instability."
Sankofa Wellness believes, in the fight against climate change, every voice matters.