Seed: Students for Education Empowerment and Development

Eileen has been with SEED since it’s inception in 2005. During her years at SEED she has taken on many different roles including Executive Director, Board Member, SEED Agent, Advisor and others. SEED came to being because of Eileen’s vision and energy and still exists thanks to the commitment and determination of its founding members and volunteers, new and old.

When asked which words made him think, Alison shared these:

“Because Mother Nature can teach us so much; because my travels and friends have taught me that identity and wisdom are rooted in places…Because you can find beauty and curious wonder, compassion, empathy, understanding, strength, resilience, and love anywhere, anytime, and in anyone; Because sometimes laughter can be the best remedy. Two individuals laughing together can break all barriers and in so doing, create a community. “
-Cummings

Alison completed her Bachelor of Arts & Science at McGill University in 2009, and is now           working in Toyama, Japan as an Assistant Language Teacher. She first heard about SEED   through her sister, Meghan. Having just completed the Kenyan Internship in the summer of 2010, she is a relatively new member of SEED and is very excited to become more involved as the years go on. She is looking forward to being an SEED agent, organizing ongoing fundraising initiatives, and staying in touch with those at Humwend Secondary School and SJA.

Alison loves all that SEED stands for, and this love was consolidated this past summer in Kenya. It was an incredibly challenging yet rewarding experience for her, and she learned much about the nature of NGOs, development work, and how wonderful Kenyan people are! She continues to spread this inspiration to those she meets in Japan, and has been teaching her high school students about important issues such as poverty and education in developing countries.

When asked which words made him think, Alison shared these:

“The mind is everything; what you think, you become.”
“Praise and blame, gain and loss, pleasure and sorrow come and go like the wind. To be happy, rest like a giant tree, in the midst of them all.”
- Buddha

As a founding member of SEED, Anu played a central role in the organization’s conception, ideology and implementation. She continues to serve as a board member and Treasurer. Her work entails an active role in SEED’s finances, Scholarship program, fostering relations with sponsors and overseas partners along with promoting global citizenship here at home.

Anu is an associate producer with CBC News Network. She received her B.A. in political science from the University of Toronto and is also currently studying journalism at Ryerson University.

She strives to live by Winston Churchill’s words, “Be an optimist; there’s no use be anything else” and Gandhi’s saying, “Be the change in the world you want to see.” However, her greatest sources of inspiration are her friends within SEED.

Piyumi is a second year Arts & Science and political science student at McMaster University. She is one of the newer members of SEED who first got involved with the organization after travelling to Kenya as an intern in the summer of 2009. Not wanting to leave behind her experiences in Ukwala with only pictures to remember them by, Piyumi has worked as a SEED agent since September 2009, finding sponsors for students and promoting the scholarship program.

“I became a SEED agent because I felt that the scholarship program was having a real impact on students who couldn’t otherwise afford to go to school. I wanted to do my part in helping those students attend school. In addition, being a SEED member has allowed me to take part in active discussion, think critically about our projects overseas and has encouraged me to learn more about the challenges facing international development initiatives. I hope to continue my involvement and play a more active role in the organization in the years to come.”

Cara has been involved with SEED since she first heard of their internship program in 2007. After being involved with the McMaster chapter for a year, she traveled to Zambia for six weeks to work with our partners overseas on the scholarship program. Her internship in Zambia and continued involvement in SEED was the focus of her honours thesis in experiential education. Not only has she learned more about development work and the structure of non-profit organizations, SEED has empowered her to reflect more about her own education, her beliefs, her actions and abilities as a global citizen. She is currently in leadership roles organizing the 2010 internship, managing Zambian profiles, and working on SEED documents such as the Annual Report.

When asked which words made her think, Cara shared these:

Education is a social process. Education is growth. Education is not a preparation for life; education is life itself. – John Dewey

Alex is currently completing his Master’s of Science Degree in Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto. He has been involved with SEED since 2005, and has taken on many different roles within the organization including Zambian overseas intern in 2007, fundraising coordinator, website manager, secretary, SEED Agent, SEED McMaster Vice President, and member of the BOD. He continues to be an active member within the organization.

“I first travelled to Zambia in the summer of 2005 with a group of 13 fellow students. When we returned to Canada it was hardly a question – we created SEED and I’ve been involved ever since. SEED has been an opportunity for me to take all my overseas experiences and channel them into something more tangible. Through SEED I’ve been able to contribute back to the communities I interacted and developed a relationship with. It has also been a tremendous learning experience that has helped me grow as a person that is capable of much more than I ever thought possible. Although we are a small organization, I feel that our values, ideology and commitment to self empowerment is what makes SEED special.”

When asked which words made him think, Alex shared these:

“I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.” – William Penn

Meghan has been involved with SEED since the summer of 2006, when she travelled to Kenya and Zambia as a SEED intern and initiated SEED projects at Humwend Secondary and Lifunga Primary Schools in rural Kenya.  Since then, Meghan has biked across Canada to raise money for SEED, organized numerous fundraisers, and served as a SEED Agent and member of the Board of Directors. 

“Being involved with SEED has taught me the complexities and challenges of fundraising, undertaking projects overseas, and operating a non-governmental organization.  I have been able to apply knowledge from my recently completed master’s degree in Development Studies to my involvement with SEED.” 

When asked which words made her think, Meghan shared these:

“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.”  – Rumi

Nina Modi is a lawyer who has been a long time member of SEED, and was present when the organization was founded. Whether she lives near or far, Nina always manages to contribute to our organization. She has been a member of the BOD of directors for numerous years, and has helped collect scholarships as a SEED Agent.

“I traveled to Zambia, alongside several other volunteers, over four years ago and was present at the inception of SEED.  SEED was born from the desire to not leave the stories of the children we met behind, meanwhile coming back to our comfortable lives and feeling satisfied about the work conducted overseas.  The reality is that the impact we had while in Zambia was inconsequential, and we knew we could use our resources in Canada to do something more significant.  The prospect of creating an organization that held education as the primary way of empowering individuals to create social change was exciting.  Since its conception, SEED has grappled with ideas of social development and aid assistance, and has consistently adapted in order to find ways of contributing in a meaningful manner.  By doing so, we have grown individually and as an organization. My experience with SEED has been, and will continue to be, an enriching and rewarding experience.”

Nidhi is a 20 year old 3rd year student at Ryerson University. She became involved with SEED as an overseas intern in Kenya during the summer of 2009. There, she collected scholarships, checked up on our students, researched potential projects, evaluated our programs, and maintained our overseas partnerships. Since her return home, she has helped to collect scholarships as a SEED Agent, has contributed to our overseas programs, and has helped SEED plan for various upcoming projects.

“It just started with total curiosity. I’ve always had an interest in international development studies since high school so when I heard about people travelling abroad to different countries and volunteering in rural areas I felt this was something I really wanted to do. The internship was one of the best experiences of my life – it was surreal, rattling, and an empowering yet uncomfortable eye opener. I’ve inherited an important philosophy from SEED, which is the idea of working in partnership. Since SEED functions non-invasively providing scholarly funding for many students in Kenya and Zambia: I’ve understood that it’s not up to North Americans to “help” and “save” the lesser fortunate in impoverished countries.  I also love being a part of SEED because there is a positive vibe among everyone and we’re all open to any sort of criticism or advice. It’s a group effort that values each and every one of its’ members I couldn’t be happier to be a part of it!”

When asked which words made her think, Nidhi shared these:

 ”And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you concieve Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is stll a beautiful world.” – Desiderata: A Survival Guide for Life by Max Ehrmann

Nitasha is a 25 year old 3rd year medical student at the University of Western Ontario. She has been an integral part of SEED since she helped found the organization in 2005. She has taken on many different roles and responsibilities within the organization, including SEED McMaster president, member of the BOD, internship coordinator, and member of the executive body. Her hard work and dedication to SEED has helped it grow into the organization it is today.

“I have been one of the lucky few who has been with SEED since its inception in 2005. What started as a small project upon my return from volunteering in Zambia has now become a complicated, beautiful mess of an organization which grows and improves with each passing day and every new member. Working with SEED over the past few years has been an immensely thought provoking experience that has taught me about friendship, hope, drive, developmental ethics, the ability to work as a team, and so much more. It has shaped part of who I am today, and I know that I will carry the philosophy of empowerment with me wherever I go in life. In doing so, I will always remain a part of the SEED movement, and always strive to reach my own maximum potential.”

When asked which words made her think, Nitasha shared these:

“To love. To be loved. To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and the vulgar disparity of life around you. To seek joy in the saddest places. To pursue beauty to its lair. To never simplify what is complicated or complicate what is simple. To respect strength, never power. Above all, to watch. To try and understand. To never look away. And never, never, to forget.” – Arundhati Roy

“Blessed are those who are cracked for they will let in the light.” – Groucho Marx

I became involved with SEED as an Zambian intern in the summer of 2008. Since then, I’ve gathered scholarships as a SEED agent and worked on our internship program. Working in SEED has helped me recognize and practise the nitty-gritty skills that are often needed in order to bring ideas and dreams to life. I’ve always been more of a head-in-the-clouds dreamer than a firmly grounded practical person, and being a part of SEED has taught me how to bridge the gaps between vision and reality. It’s been a fantastic learning experience.


“I do not want to talk about what you understand about this world. I want to know what you will do about it. I do not want to know what you hope. I want to know what you will work for. I do not want your sympathy for the needs of humanity. I want your muscle.” – Robert Fulghum