Eunice is an innovation specialist and passionate about using information technology for development with extensive experience in setting up digital infrastructure for various projects to improve service delivery and collect evidence-based data for planning and governance. She has expertise with automation and digitization of operational systems in the health care sector, sanitation, and WASH, providing technical expertise to shape thought leadership, providing leadership to teams, and providing cross functional support. She was also the former Program Director at the Medical Concierge Group, a health social enterprise using digital technology to provide medical services, country director at Text to Change and over 15 years on programs in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Malawi, Zambia, and Ethiopia among others. She is currently a presenter and speaker at global forums, conferences, and meetings on using ICT and mobile as new and now popular media for health including behavioral change, education, accountability, and governance. She is also a member of the IWA Digital Committee.

Jacob Muddu is currently the Regional Manager East Africa for Banking Engagements & Partnerships for the Autochek Africa Group. He is a founding member of the Autochek Uganda business, an automotive technology development company that builds solutions aimed at enhancing commerce within the automotive eco-system. He was previously the Country Manager Autochek business in Uganda.
Jacob is an experienced Business Development Professional with a background in the Financial Sector (Auto Sales, Vehicle & Equipment Financing) and worked largely in the corporate sector largely across the financial & telcom industries.
Graduated from Makerere University in Uganda with Bachelors in Business Computing and joined CEED Uganda from the onset as a Program Coordinator.
Being here again gives me a larger sense of responsibility to contribute to an impactful organization in our community.

At Concordia, Daphne is majoring in women’s studies. She would like to take action to improve the status of women and the advancement of society as a whole. She is excited to use the various skill sets I’ve gained from her program and pick up from other board members while working with CEED to accomplish their common goal.

Zoë is a research assistant at Concordia University and a CEED Board member on the strategy team. She is also a recent Politics and International Studies MPhil graduate from the University of Cambridge. Before her MPhil degree, Zoë graduated from Concordia as the 2022 Arts & Science Valedictorian with a Communication Studies major and a Law & Society minor. Zoë previously worked at CEED as a research assistant for the Women’s Solidarity project and she is looking forward to contributing to additional projects this coming year.

Ryan is a finance and accounting major who integrates his academic pursuits with his passion for sports, entrepreneurship, and real estate. As a second-generation immigrant from Burundi, he recognizes the sacrifices his parents made and is driven to give back to those facing limited opportunities. Serving on the Finance Committee of CEED Concordia effectively combines Ryan’s studies with his desire to empower the less fortunate.

Samirath Gbegan is an economics student also pursuing a minor in sustainability studies. Passionate about community empowerment, she is keen to learn more about NGO governance and participate in the decision-making process with a strong desire to advocate for students’ interests within CEED’s projects

Merveille is a final year student for a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and a minor in Multidisciplinary Science Studies (member of the science college) at Concordia. She is a dynamic, motivated, and resilient person who finds drive and fulfillment in engaging, connecting, and transforming and puts these values at the heart of her multidimensional strive for betterment. She is a beautiful and passionate human being- a people’s person who is relentless at getting involved and giving back to her community.

She believes in using our personal narratives, positionalities and intersectionalities as powerful tools to shape and impact the world around us. To her, each human being is unique and can contribute to the world in a unique way. As a young, black woman with a keen passion for issues pertaining to education, gender violence, women and youth empowerment, social and racial justice, she has chosen the lanes of activism, volunteering, advocacy, and community-building to effect positive change. Prior to joining CEED, Merveille worked for a couple of organizations among which the Commonwealth Youth Council for the regions of Africa and Europe, the Center d’appui aux Communautés immigrantes (CACI), a non-profit organization located in Montreal and an NGO called Open Dreams which advocates for the equalization of educational opportunities for low-income students. In addition to that, Merveille is currently president of the Quebec Black Medical Association’s youth initiative, Education Coordinator for the African and Caribbean Synergic Interorganizational network of Canada Concordia chapter, Faculty of Arts and Science representative at the Black Perspective Office Student Council at Concordia and Vice-president Sponsorship for the organization Stronger than Stigma; a student-led association which works at raising awareness and fighting the stigma associated to mental illnesses in the student community.

Merveille is unapologetically in love with what she does and eager to contribute to and grow alongside CEED’s amazing community.

Awel Uwihanganye is an alumnus of Concordia University and the co-founder of CEED Concordia, founded in 2005 along with Peter Schiefke, another former student of Concordia University. He served as the Director of Operations for CEED Concordia from 2005 – 2009 and has continued to support the organization as an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors.  He has over the last fifteen years of accumulated experience working in public and private sector settings, and currently serves as the Senior Director at the LéO Africa Institute, which he founded in 2012.  Awel’s footprint at Concordia University includes other roles and responsibilities over the years;

– 2017 and 2018, served as the founding Lead at the Concordia Africa Initiative, the University initiative looking to strengthen relations between Concordia University and African Countries.

– In 2015, he was presented Concordia University’s Young Alumnus of the year Award

– In 2006, along with Peter Schiefke, they were presented with the Forces Avenir

Award by the city of Montreal in recognition of their championing of CEED Concordia

– In 2005, he represented students of the Arts and Science faculty in the University Senate Council. The same year, he was also the inaugural recipient of the Colors of Concordia Award

– In 2004 along with other students, founded and led the formation of the Global Forum on International Cooperation, a student forum inspired by professor emeritus Dr. Henry Habib.

Awel is a passionate social entrepreneur, invested in the innovation ecosystem, youth leadership development, and championing Africa’s growth. He is a privileged fellow of the Africa Leadership Initiative East Africa, and a member of the Aspen Institute’s Global Leadership Network.

Born in Burundi and raised in Montreal, Tessie Nikuze is passionate about the cross-cultural engagement and youth community-led development that CEED embodies. 

Nikuze is currently pursuing a certificate in project management and has an academic background in international development and social entrepreneurship. She looks forward to applying the skills and knowledge acquired in these fields to her work on CEED’s Board. 

Her current position as an Executive Management Assistant at Fondation Jeunes En Tête sharpened her interest in governance through her work supporting the management team in the preparation of their Board of Directors and Executive Board meetings and attending these meetings. Nikuze also has experience in the fields of management, administration and community work which has prepared her for implementing impact strategies. Furthermore, she has previously participated on an advisory committee for an initiative seeking to welcome asylum seekers and foster a sense of solidarity and connectedness between newcomers and Montrealers which was spearheaded by the Samuel Center for Social Connectedness. 

Nikuze looks forward to contributing to CEED’s mission of shaping better communities and future leaders.

Chair, Board of Directors

Tuhirirwe Karane is a communications enthusiast and is deeply passionate about open governance and public accountability through new media.Currently serving as the Communications Lead for the Makerere University Endowment Fund, he works closely with the Ministry of ICT & National Guidance, Ministry of Health, Uganda AIDS Commission, UNAIDS and the United Nations Population Fund. Karane has previously worked as Head – Digital Communications, Office of the President and as a Communications Officer at the Government Citizen Interaction Centre. Karane also seats on the board of CEED Concordia, a non-profit organization providing youth with experiential learning and development opportunities that make a positive impact in their communities.

Jessica is a Political Science student at Concordia University, who is currently doing a minor in Economics and Sustainability. Jessica believes in achieving lasting social change through patience, knowledge, negotiating skills and hands-on experience, which she was able to gain through some cross-cultural work, developmental work, and non-profit organizations. Through a recent internship experience, she worked on several projects related to these skills. She has also travelled to Mexico, Costa Rica and Morocco to work with different organizations.

Jessica recently created a page on Instagram called @Asanimtl. With this page, she wants to challenge the idea that individuals have to spend a lot of money to reduce their ecological footprint. Being sustainable should be inclusive. 

Majaliwa Byendimbwa is a Concordia alumni currently working as an auditor at the accounting firm Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton. In addition, he is one of the co-founders of the tax preparation company Tax Nimbus Canada. During his university experience, Majaliwa has been part of the John Molson Competition Committee as an accounting delegate and participated in several volunteering opportunities such as the John Molson  Accounting Society tax clinic. He is now pursuing the CPA, auditor designation as a graduate student at Concordia. With experience in audit and accounting, he wants to contribute to CEED’s success and face new challenges with a forward-thinking mindset.

Daniel has worked in the non-profit sector since 2008 in both the environmental and international development sectors. He began his career as a CEED intern and eventually became the Executive Director, a post he held between 2012 and 2016. Daniel holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Environment from Concordia, an MBA from HEC Montréal, and currently works as the Global Operations Manager for the Canadian Association of Midwives. He is most proud of his work as a co-founder and Treasurer of the Mercy Project, a registered charity that, for the past 12 years, has funded health and wellness activities for the St. Jude Children’s home and Sports Outreach Ministry, two amazing organizations located in Gulu, Uganda.

Kaoutar is an IIROC licensed consultant by trade. Her journey with CEED started 10 years ago. A month after she started her mathematics and statistics degree at Concordia University, she joined the very young student lead organization, formerly named CVAP, as an assistant. After she graduated, Kaoutar joined the board. She has contributed and witnessed the growth and transition of the organization into CEED. She champions its mission, vision, and value. She is honored to support CEED as long as she can.