War Child Canada 61d ago

The BRIDGE program works through a consortium of local organizations whose institutional capacities have been strengthened in areas such as governance, safeguarding, finance, procurement, and gender policies. This ensures that local partners are able to sustain and scale services over time. Community Empowerment for Creative Innovation (CECI), a refugee-led organization founded in 2017, has strengthened its capacity and impact through its partnership in the War Child Canada-led Bridge project. Prior to joining the consortium, CECI faced limited resources and operated with less structured systems. Through the partnership, the organization has enhanced its visibility, attracted additional support, and built stronger internal systems, including improved financial management and dedicated communications capacity. The collaboration has also contributed to increased enrolment in the Accelerated Education Program and expanded demand for CECI’s services within the community. Importantly, the consortium model has supported a shift toward more strategic, coordinated programming, enabling CECI to deliver education, protection, and livelihood support more effectively. CECI’s experience demonstrates how investing in local, refugee-led partners can strengthen systems, improve service delivery, and create sustainable impact at the community level.