‘It is important to collaborate as one global community’

It takes vision, determination and persistence to lead change for societal good. As executive director of CEED Concordia, Hawa Keita, BComm 17, puts her skills to use to help youth initiate positive change in their communities around the world.

“We arrange trainings and programs that young people need for the future in subjects such as technology, education, environmental sustainability and more,” says Keita of the non-profit organization. CEED has been active in Montreal and Gulu, Uganda since 2006, with a focus on international development and support of communities through educational services.

“We especially try to involve Concordia students to be a part of curating this project,” says Keita. “Not only for them to gain experience in international development, but to become exposed to this emerging field.”

As part of her duties, Keita is responsible for making sure that the organization’s programs run smoothly while also managing funds, media appearances and guiding a team of staff members in multiple countries to reach her goals.

In recognition of her work in her community and abroad, Keita was named a Top 30 Under 30 by Corporate Knights in 2021. The award lauds changemakers under the age of 30 who are leading initiatives in environment and sustainability. Keita is specifically recognized for her efforts for steering CEED through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the organization to adapt to a new set of challenges.

“Everything was initially uncertain, but as a collective we have been able to maintain our impact,” she says. “Our income has grown exponentially in the last year, and we have been able to extend our work to other countries such as Colombia, Ghana and Senegal.”

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