Edward Matwawana
Biography
Ed Matwawana lives in Ottawa where he is currently working at the Michaëlle Jean Foundation. The Foundation focuses on culture, education, innovation, and entrepreneurship among youth. It involves decision-makers from a variety of sectors, creating spaces of opportunity and visibility that offer young people a platform. Born in Angola (Southwestern Africa) and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ed moved to Canada at the age of 20. He attended Crandall University (formerly known as the Atlantic Baptist College) and Acadia University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology & Psychology, with a concentration in Community Movement and Advocacy.
For the past two decades, Ed has become a Community Transformation Agent involved in working with communities and institutions in Canada and overseas in the following areas: youth, entrepreneurship education, programs development, delivery and evaluation, motivational and public speaking, business development and coaching, organizational administration, transition and offender’s reintegration programming and community economic development. Ed has also served on many community boards and committees. He served on the National Ethnocultural Advisory Committee for Corrections Canada for several years.
Ed is fluent in French, English and two Bantu languages (Kikongo and Lingala), with a working knowledge of Portuguese.