COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT & DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (CEDI) was founded in January 2010. CEDI got successfully registered with the Kaduna State Government as a community development non-governmental organization in 2016.
Our founder and Chairperson Safia Winifred Ahmadu is a community development expert as well as a Child Welfare & Childhood studies expert and a Social Worker. She has brought in over 29 years of working experience to this organization. She is an alumnus of the United States Government International Visitor & Leadership program (IVLP).
The principal reason why CEDI was established was as a result of my background in community development and social work. As a social work educator, I have had the privilege of leading students on participatory projects and practical teachings. Each year we see cases of needs which are either neglected and cannot be handled anymore by the government or anybody, and I said to myself, why not establish an initiative to help persons that are trapped and deprived in the society, especially in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria.
In the near future, CEDI intends to establish a resource center, where we will organize and carry out our teaching skills, learning and vocational training activities. It shall also have a computer teaching hall, offices, games room and library for use by beneficiaries of our work.
PROGRAM AREAS
CEDI was established to pursue the following objectives:
· Participation in the empowerment and development of children, youths and women.
· The organizing, management and development of programs and activities that educate, entertains and develops skills and abilities of beneficiaries of the organization. These will be projects and exchange programs, locally and internationally.
· Membership of appropriate groups and networks for the purpose of establishing regular competitive play for the organization’s representative teams.
· The provision of educational learning and training and playing facilities for its members.
· Promoting and maintaining the highest standards of development and empowerment.
· Providing equal opportunities for successful participation by members of the community.
· We give counseling services to students and members of the society on an ongoing basis. In a year, not less than 500 people benefited from these free services. We have helped many to improve their academic pursuits, resolve domestic disputes and find greater fulfillment in life.
