International Activist

Who: Remzi Cej
Age: 24
What: Fieldworker, Amnesty International

Remzi Cej is a native of Kosovo and a citizen of Canada, but a son of the world. Cej speaks eight languages (English, Albanian, Serbian, Serbo-Croatian, Turkish, Spanish, French, and German) and puts them all to use in his efforts to make a difference around the world. He was recently named a recipient of the 2007 Terry Fox Humanitarian Award. Below is the write-up from the Terry Fox program and and excerpt from Cej’s page on Taking It Global (also a great site for those that Believe In Youth).

Terry Fox Humanitarian Award Recipient, 2007
Remzi Cej St. John’s, Newfoundland

Remzi is passionate about international human rights and this is reflected through his work with a number of organizations including; The Association for New Canadians, Anti Racism Day, War Child, Amnesty International, the United Nations Association, the Refugee Immigrant Society. Remzi is the youngest ever recipient of the YMCA Peace Medal Award and was also recognized by the government of Spain for his work with the Spanish Red Cross during the crisis in Kosovo. Remzi is currently studying French and German Studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

“Remzi Cej is at the very forefront of young people I have known in my personal and professional life over the course of my 65 years. He is not only willing but passionate in his determination to be of service to his world-wide community, especially in promoting respect for Human Rights.”

-John Fleming, Amnesty International

Profile, Taking It Global
Remzi Cej, Student, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Remzi has been a fieldworker with Amnesty International since 2004. In 2005, he joined the organization’s diversity task force, an internal group formed to discuss the application of diversity to Amnesty International programs and projects.

He was also a board member of the Youth Advisory Board at War Child Canada from 2003 to 2005.

He served on the executive board of directors of Community Youth Network from 2001 to 2005, an organization working in the policy development and advocacy for the well-being of youth-at-risk in the St.John’s community.

Remzi volunteers with the AIDS Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador.He recently joined the United Nations Association in Canada National Youth Team on HIV/AIDS to develop new local, provincial, national and international strategies of HIV/AIDS education.

Since 2001, Remzi has volunteered and periodically worked with the Association for New Canadians, the local settlement agency. In 2004, he worked with the Refugee Immigrant Advisory Council.

Currently, Remzi is working on a non-fiction work on the effects of war on youth and is a freelance journalist for the CBC Radio.