Bios

Joanna Campbell

Co-Director

E-mail: joanna@themercyproject.org

Originally hailing from Edmonton, Joanna moved to Montreal in 2004 to complete her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature at Concordia University. She began her career as a magazine writer and editor and is now a partner at All Beef Media, a company that specializes in creative social media content and management for brands. In the summer of 2009 she travelled to Northern Uganda to do humanitarian work at St. Jude Children's Home. Joanna joined the Mercy Project upon her return to continue volunteering and stay connected with the children of Gulu.

Andrea Clarke

Co-Director

E-mail: andrea@themercyproject.org

Andrea went to Northern Uganda in 2009 with the Concordia Volunteer Abroad Program following her completion of a specialization in Cell and Molecular Biology from Concordia University. Currently, she is completing her Master’s of Science in Biochemistry at Concordia University and is a member of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Graduate Student Association. Her goals within The Mercy Project are geared towards the acquisition of sustainable equipment and methodologies to help meet the physical and occupational therapy needs of the St Jude’s Children’s Home.

Daniel Lavigueur

Founding Member

E-mail: danl@themercyproject.org

Daniel was born and raised in Montreal. He holds a B.A. in Human Environment and will be pursuing a Master’s degree in International Development Studies. Daniel spent one year working for The Climate Project Canada, Al Gore’s climate change awareness foundation, as Partnerships and Special Projects Co-ordinator. He has since been in Eastern Africa supporting The Mercy Project, CVAP, and UNICEF initiatives. His interests include sub-Saharan Africa, sustainability and development, playing squash, and dabbling on the guitar.

Emma Perkins

Co-Director

E-mail: emma@themercyproject.org

Born and raised in Dunham, a small eastern township of Quebec, Emma moved to Montreal to further her studies in 2003. A recent graduate from Concordia University with a specialization in Exercise Science, she is a large advocate of physical activity to promote a positive well-being. After volunteering at St. Jude Children's Home in Northern Uganda in the summer of 2009, she wished to further help support healthcare initiatives by joining The Mercy Project. She enjoys reading, yoga, spinning and outdoor running.

Jamie Robinson

Co-Director/Founding Member

E-mail: jamie@themercyproject.org

Jamie is from Brampton, Ontario and now resides in Montreal after completing her Major in History at Concordia University. Jamie has been involved in social justice and anti-poverty work in various capacities: volunteering in Israel, working with political action groups, the MS Society, hospice care, and the Concordia Volunteer Abroad Program. She travelled to Gulu first in 2008 to volunteer, and is currently the Executive Director of CVAP. Her interests include fractals, robots, oral history, reading, and innovative approaches to eradicating poverty and promoting global citizenship.

Akwero Joyce

Nurse at St. Jude Children's Home

Akwero Joyce was born and raised in Gulu, Uganda. She graduated from the St. Kizito Mattany School of Nursing in 2006 and has participated in additional training in areas that include cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, child protection and nutrition. She has been working as a full-time nurse at St. Jude Children's Home since July, 2009. In her spare time Joyce enjoys reading and listening to music.

Oola Julius Peter Kakaye

Deputy Director at St. Jude Children's Home

Oola Julius Peter Kakaye received his Bachelor of Arts in Social and Philosophical Studies from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda's largest institution of higher learning. Julius then earned his Master of Arts degree in Development Studies from Uganda Martyrs University and also holds a Diploma in Guidance and Counselling from Alokolum National Major Seminary. Since October 2008 he has been acting as Deputy Director at St. Jude Children’s Home and also lectures at Gulu University for the Business and Development Studies faculty.

Jimmy Otim

Director of Operations for the Concordia Volunteer Abroad Program

Jimmy Otim has worked in the field of international development for more than six years and has studied in Uganda and Sweden. He earned his undergraduate degree at Gulu University and is currently finishing his Master's degree in International Development at Makerere University in Kampala. Jimmy has been working with the Concordia Volunteer Abroad Program since 2007 and has been instrumental in the formation of partnership with locally based organizations. He is the proud father of three children, Nathan, Aber, and Princess.