The idea of creating NDFA emerged in 2008 when a group of individuals from the Bari tribes came together to discuss how they could strengthen community groups and increase public participation in defining and solving issues facing the community. These discussions led to the development of a participatory process that enabled South Sudanese-Canadian citizens and communities of Central McDougall, Queen Mary Park, and Northeast Edmonton to voice their views and concerns about activities for children, youths, adults, and seniors. The group also came up with ideas to help their original country, South Sudan, and elsewhere in Africa by providing support to build new schools, healthcare centers, clean water initiatives, community centers, agriculture initiatives, and support for small business development (cooperative businesses). From these endeavors, NDFA was formed and has continued to develop and evolve. The name Nyarkenyi came from a homeland village in South Sudan (Lado County). NDFA was incorporated on May 17, 2010, and has targeted the greater Edmonton population since 2011.

The Nyarkenyi objective is “to improve citizens’ lives and the communities in which they live through the provision of public education and other initiatives to enable individuals to enhance their lives.”