Who we are
Since 2006, CEED Concordia has offered Montreal and Ugandan students opportunities to contribute to sustainable community projects in the form of internships, competitions, programs and employment opportunities. Through our initiatives we are working to shape better communities and future leaders for a better tomorrow.
The projects our interns work on are mostly linked to environmental sustainability, entrepreneurship, advocacy, technology and media. They allow interns to gain firsthand experience in the international development sector and build valuable skills, such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving know-how, while working in a cross-cultural setting.
Furthermore, our projects address a broad range of issues tailored to the needs of the local population we’re serving. For example, in our Tech Ed project in Uganda, interns develop and facilitate practical workshops for high school students that improve their basic technical skills in Excel, Word, coding and more. With a young population and a growing need for technological skills, Uganda is well positioned for such a program as it helps teenagers build their capacity to transform themselves and, in turn, their country. For more information on our projects, head to the programs tab of the website.
Our approach
CEED believes in community leadership and adapting to the needs of the community, rather than applying blanket solutions. As such, the way we approach our projects in Gulu will differ from our approach in Montreal and other locations.
Our internships emphasize social, community, and personal development through experiential learning and cultural and skills exchange. At Concordia, our organization benefits the student body through meaningful skills-based internships, public events, research opportunities, and employment opportunities.
Our History and Recognition
The Concordia Volunteer Abroad Program (CVAP) is Born
Two Concordia University students, Awel Uwihanganye and Peter Schiefke, get support from their peers to fund an experiential learning program in Gulu, Uganda that allows students to use their skills outside the classroom to empower youth and young people in northern Uganda. The precursor to CEED Concordia, CVAP, is founded and under this program young people get to work on projects related to entrepreneurship, sustainable food production, childcare, child healthcare, HIV/AIDS and more in Gulu.
Forces Avenir Award
The organization’s work is recognized with a Forces Avenir award. This award recognizes the commitment of young people in projects that enrich community knowledge and well-being. The award aims to encourage more young people to become socially conscious, active, and responsible citizens who are both dedicated to their community and open to the world.
Concordia Council on Student Life (CCSL) Award
We are granted the CCSL award which is given to Concordia students, staff, and faculty who have made an exceptional contribution to student life or services at the university.
YMCA Peace Medal
We are awarded the YMCA Peace Medal which celebrates ordinary people who demonstrate a vision, creativity, and commitment in making our communities, country, or world more peaceful and just.
We Build a Compound in Gulu
The organization builds its own facility in Gulu, Uganda as a homebase for interns and staff. The compound was built with design support from Concordia University graduate students and financial support from a range of student and faculty groups. The compound is socially and environmentally sustainable thanks to the use of local building materials, a rain catchment system, a rotating compost system and solar panels.
J.W. McConnell Family Foundation Community Service Learning Award
We are given the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation CSL Award which recognizes successful community initiatives supported by service-learning partnerships. They highlight innovative approaches that transform relationships, structures, policies, and/or mainstream practices.
We Change Direction
The organization re-envisions its mission with a focus on empowering youth as change-agents. As a result, we focus on developing core in-house projects interns can work on linked to sustainability, entrepreneurship, advocacy and media.
Our Co-Founders Receive Awards and Recognition
In May, co-founder Awel Uwihanganye was awarded Concordia University’s Young Alumni of the Year award for his professional excellence and community leadership.In October, co-founder Peter Schiefke is elected as a Member of Parliament representing the riding of Vaudreuil-Soulanges in Quebec, Canada.
10th Anniversary and Name Change
The organization celebrates 10 years of service and releases its new name, CEED, which is meant to better reflect its vision, mission and projects. CEED stands for Community, Empowerment, Education, Development.
CEED Expands Beyond Gulu and Adapts to Covid-19
For the first time, CEED works on projects in Senegal, Ghana and Colombia thanks to partnerships with the organizations such as Canada World Youth and Nuestro Flow. The team in Montreal pivots to offering events and internships online to adapt to Covid-19 health and safety requirements.
15th Anniversary
CEED interns, staff and alumni celebrated the 15th anniversary of the organization alongside CEED’s co-founders during an online event.
Since 2006, CEED Concordia has offered Montreal and Ugandan students opportunities to contribute to sustainable community projects in the form of internships, competitions, programs and employment opportunities. Through our initiatives we are working to shape better communities and future leaders for a better tomorrow.
