These early seeds of generosity were reinforced by the sense of community Madiba experienced in Gabon. She remembers kids playing together and a culture where neighbours were an extension of family.
Madiba’s late father was a diplomat, and his work brought the family to Ottawa in 1993 when she was seven years old. This was a difficult period, not only because the cultural notion of family was more limited than what she had experienced in Gabon, but also because Madiba was forced to confront racism and discrimination for the first time.
A few years later, Madiba remembers her parents asking what she wanted to do when she grew up, and what her purpose would be. “My response was that my purpose would be to help as many children as I can,” remembers Madiba. “As I grew older, that went from children to as many women as possible, to people who face homelessness or who have little income.”
Attending De La Salle high school and uOttawa introduced Madiba to the diversity and multiculturalism of Canada. These positive moments culminated with her identities and personal experience with discrimination and homelessness to motivate her desire to support others.
Along the way, Madiba met teachers who became mentors and family. That includes at uOttawa, where professors Boulou Ebanda de B'béri, Joanne St. Lewis, and Diane Pacom doled out a combination of inspiration and tough love.
“uOttawa really shaped me into the person I am today,” explains Madiba, referencing her mentors, as well as opportunities writing for the French-language student newspaper and getting involved with extracurricular clubs. “It was a place where I was allowed to be whoever I wanted to be, to dream whatever I wanted to dream, and was equipped with the resources to achieve what I wanted to achieve.”
Madiba continues to be involved with uOttawa today. She hosts the uOttaKnow podcast with alumni and researchers. In 2018, Madiba was also recognized with the University’s Young Alumni Award.
An equal chance at life and joy
One of Madiba’s initiatives is Equal Chance, a foundation that promotes the social, economic, cultural, and political well-being of vulnerable women and members of Black communities. Today, the organization focuses its efforts on individuals experiencing homelessness and low-income racialized families.
Equal Chance goes beyond supporting people to meet their daily needs. Madiba and her team take the time to understand peoples’ situations and develop collaborative solutions. Understanding the root cause of their circumstances has enabled the organization to connect people with employment seminars, financial experts, and other culturally relevant resources so they can figure out what comes next in life. “It’s being able to bring people into spaces and allow them to tap into powers they didn’t even know they had,” describes Madiba of Equal Chance’s approach.
Madiba is also co-founder of the Global Black Coalition. Launched in February 2022, the group has supported 2,000 visible minorities fleeing the war in Ukraine. Collaborating with one of her mentors, Professor Boulou, the University became one of the first to admit students escaping the war.
Whether in her work at Equal Chance, the Global Black Coalition, or other projects, Madiba is guided by her principles and values: “Life is about learning and teaching, getting, and giving. My dad used to say, ‘why are you building what you are building if not to be shared with others?’ For me it’s true that sharing is caring, and caring can go a very long way into changing peoples’ lives for the better.”