About Hacsa
WHAT IS HACSA?
The Heritage and Cultural Society of Africa (HACSA) Foundation is a women-led, international, non-profit, non-partisan, non-governmental, civil society organisation and charity based in Ghana, and registered in the Caribbean and in the USA as a 501(c)(3) organization. We foster social impact and transformation, through advocacy, education, innovation and collaboration within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
We link people of African descent in the diaspora and Africa enthusiasts with each other and to the African continent, through our HACSA Sankofa Network, Sankofa Young Leaders Fellowship (SYLF) and our annual Flagship event, the HACSA Sankofa Summit and Charity Gala.
At HACSA, we create spaces for meaningful dialogue on matters pertaining to Africa. Our flagship event, the HACSA Summit, is a unique and inspiring African homecoming and networking experience connecting the diaspora and African enthusiasts with public, private, and civil society networks in Africa. We invite you to become a member of this global community by joining the HACSA Sankofa Network. A warm welcome awaits you!
Vision
To curate virtual and physical meeting spaces and places that celebrate African heritage and culture and enlighten, empower, inspire and educate people and communities through knowledge, skills, innovation and learning about Africa.
Mission
To reunite the diaspora, preserve and promote African heritage and culture, celebrate the achievements of people of African descent, empower women and girls and develop leadership and skills in the youth.
OUR ORIGIN​
The HACSA Foundation was founded under the leadership of Ambassador Johanna Svanikier in 2016, on her return to Ghana from Paris, to continue initiatives and projects she had begun as Ghana’s Ambassador to France, Portugal and UNESCO.
HACSA unites the African diaspora and Africa enthusiasts, to preserve and promote African heritage and culture, shed light on our histories and legacies and invest in the future by developing leadership and skills in the youth and empowering women and girls.
WHAT WE DO
ADVOCACY
Preserving & Promoting African Heritage & Culture
EDUCATION
Educating about the Past Preparing for the Future
INNOVATION
Innovating to Build the Future we Want
COLLABORATION
Creating Partnerships to achieve our Goals
OUR FOUNDER
Ambassador Johanna Svanikier is the Founder, President and CEO of the Heritage and Cultural Society of Africa Foundation, HACSA-USA and HACSA-Caribbean. In March 2017, Ambassador Svanikier organised the hugely influential African Diaspora Homecoming Conference to celebrate Ghana’s 60th independence anniversary in a memorable and meaningful way. This seminal event inspired “the Year of Return” in Ghana and was followed by the HACSA Sankofa Summit 2019, which symbolically commemorated 400 years since the transatlantic slave trade began.
Ambassador Svanikier is Ghana’s recent past Ambassador to France & Portugal and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO and La Francophonie. During her tour of duty in Paris, she initiated Ghana’s membership of the OECD Development Centre where she represented Ghana on the Governing Board. Ambassador Svanikier chaired the ECOWAS Group at UNESCO from 2014 to 2015 and successfully campaigned to win Ghana a seat on the UNESCO Executive Board. She also organised a delegation from France to Ghana led by the Prime Minister of France.
OUR FOUNDER
Ambassador Johanna Svanikier is Founder, President and CEO of the Heritage and Cultural Society of Africa Foundation, HACSA-USA and HACSA-Caribbean. In March 2017, Ambassador Svanikier organised the hugely influential African Diaspora Homecoming Conference to celebrate Ghana’s 60th independence anniversary in a memorable and meaningful way. This seminal event inspired “the Year of Return” in Ghana and was followed by the HACSA Sankofa Summit 2019, which symbolically commemorated 400 years since the transatlantic slave trade began.
Ambassador Svanikier is Ghana’s recent past Ambassador to France & Portugal and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO and La Francophonie. During her tour of duty in Paris, she initiated Ghana’s membership of the OECD Development Centre where she represented Ghana on the Governing Board. Ambassador Svanikier chaired the ECOWAS Group at UNESCO from 2014 to 2015 and successfully campaigned to win Ghana a seat on the UNESCO Executive Board. She also organised a delegation from France to Ghana led by the Prime Minister of France.