Future Black Female, a groundbreaking organization founded by Tapo Chimbganda, is making significant strides in providing assistance to young Black women and girls in Niagara. The organization has recently launched a virtual mental health platform called Udada, aimed at addressing the unique mental health challenges faced by this demographic.

Chimbganda, who has dedicated her career to advocating for the mental well-being of young Black women and girls, recognized the lack of accurate representation and understanding of their mental health experiences within the existing system. Motivated by this realization, she set out to create a culturally responsive platform that would effectively cater to their needs.

Udada, meaning sisterhood in Swahili, was developed with the goal of taking a community-led, comprehensive approach to mental health for Black women and girls. By harnessing the collective power of the community, Future Black Female aims to make mental health resources more accessible and readily available. The platform provides a user-friendly interface where young Black women can find a wide range of mental health resources, tools, and support.

The development of Udada began in March 2023, culminating in its launch in October of the same year to coincide with Mental Health Week. Future Black Female conducted a nationwide survey involving approximately 250 young Black women and girls to gain insights into the specific challenges they face. The survey revealed several key issues, including high rates of alcohol and cannabis use, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and the impact of racial discrimination on mental health.

Chimbganda emphasized the importance of tailoring the platform’s resources to address these identified challenges. The organization will soon begin sharing valuable insights derived from the survey data, ensuring that the platform remains responsive to the needs of its users.

The launch of Udada aligns with Black History Month, during which Future Black Female is hosting various events to celebrate and raise awareness of Black history. One such event is the art show titled “Recontextualizing Black History Through Art,” which provides local Black artists with a platform to showcase their work and increase representation of Black culture within public institutions. Notably, the artwork will be displayed at St. Catharines City Hall throughout the month of February.

Additionally, Future Black Female is organizing the Black Girl Conference at Eden High School on Friday, focusing on the theme of “Unpacking and Navigating Power Dynamics in Your World.” This conference aims to empower young Black girls by providing them with the tools to navigate power dynamics in their lives. The conference will commence at 9 a.m.

On Saturday, Robertson Hall at 85 Church St., St. Catharines, will host Future Black Female’s second annual variety show at 4 p.m. This event promises to be a vibrant celebration of Black talent and creativity.

For more information about Future Black Female and their initiatives, please visit their website at FutureBlackFemale.com. To explore the Udada platform and access its resources, visit Udada.ca.

Note: The information provided in this article is based on the news report and the activities of Future Black Female. For additional details and updates, please refer to the provided websites