Canadian Aweil Youth Association - CAYA

06/05/2026

05/26/2026

Warm congratulations to Luka Atak, Founder and CEO of Canadian Aweil Youth Association (CAYA), on your remarkable leadership journey for the 2026–2030 term.
Your dedication, hard work, and vision for empowering youth and supporting communities continue to make a meaningful impact both in Canada and South Sudan. Through your leadership, CAYA has become a strong voice for unity, development, education, health, and community empowerment.
May this new term bring greater success, stronger partnerships, and more achievements for CAYA and the people you serve. Wishing you wisdom, strength, good health, and continued inspiration as you lead the organization into a brighter future.
May God bless you, bless CAYA, and bless all your efforts toward building stronger communities.
Congratulations once again on this well-deserved leadership journey.

04/22/2026

Canadian Aweil Youth Association (CAYA) would like to sincerely appreciate the funding support for the 2025–2026 period. Your generous contribution is making a meaningful difference in advancing our programs and supporting the communities we serve. Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

01/03/2026

Happy New Year!
The Canadian Aweil Youth Association (CAYA) extends warm New Year greetings to all our members, partners, and the entire community. May this new year bring peace, good health, unity, and renewed hope to our families and our nation.
We sincerely thank you for your continued support, commitment, and dedication to empowering youth and building a stronger, more inclusive community. As we step into the new year, let us move forward together with purpose, collaboration, and determination to create positive change and lasting impact.
Wishing you a successful, prosperous, and blessed New Year.
— Luka Atak

12/19/2025

The Canadian Aweil Youth Association (CAYA) is currently facing an urgent operational need for staffing to effectively manage and scale our programming. As demand for our youth outreach services has significantly increased, we have found ourselves in a position where additional full-time program coordinators, mental health counsellors, and administrative staff are required to ensure smooth operations. These positions are crucial to the successful delivery of our community-based youth programs, which include mentorship, leadership development, and mental health support for underserved youth, as well as our outreach to women, particularly those who are recent arrivals to Canada. Without adequate staffing, our programs risk being scaled back, leading to longer waitlists, decreased quality of service, and limited outreach to youth in need across the Kitchener-Waterloo region.

12/17/2025

Partners Spotlight
Spotlighting: Canadian Aweil Youth Association (CAYA)
Supporting Black South Sudanese Youth to Heal, Belong, and Thrive
CAYA is a proud member of the Family Centre Community Hub initiative and a strength-based, community-driven organization supporting Black youth and families of South Sudanese origin. The organization fosters resilience, identity, and empowerment for youth navigating life in Canada while addressing the impacts of immigration, displacement, conflict, and intergenerational trauma.
Founded in 2012 by Luka Atak, CAYA grew from Luka’s lived experience. Born in Madding Aweil, South Sudan, Luka arrived in Kitchener, Ontario in May 2005 after fleeing conflict. His journey reflects the experiences of many South Sudanese youth who face cultural dislocation, identity exploration, and the challenge of establishing belonging in a new country.
CAYA walks alongside these youth and their families, providing culturally grounded programming, mentorship, sports, creative activities, and leadership development. The organization empowers youth to:
• Heal from trauma and the effects of migration
• Build confidence, identity, and belonging
• Engage fully in education and community life
• Develop leadership skills and envision future possibilities
• Strengthen family and community connections
CAYA creates safe, affirming spaces where Black youth are seen, heard, and empowered to reach their full potential.

CAYA’s International Work in South Sudan
CAYA’s impact extends globally as a corporate international NGO. The organization partners with over 14 NGOs in Canada and seeks to expand international collaborations to support youth and communities in South Sudan.
CAYA’s international goals include:
• Establishing youth and women’s centers with educational, recreational, and technological resources
• Providing access to education, health services, clean water, and food security
• Delivering leadership and skills training to empower South Sudanese youth in local community development
• Building infrastructure including computer labs, libraries, and agricultural tools
Through this work, CAYA strengthens youth resilience and community capacity both in Canada and in South Sudan, fostering sustainable growth and leadership development.

Vision & Mission
Luka’s Vision:
A society where youth, children, women, men, seniors, and people with all abilities have access to education, medical care, clean water, food, and a life free from violence.
Mission:
CAYA eradicates isolation and despair among African youth by fostering belonging, unity, and opportunity. Through education, creative learning, sports, culture, and leadership development, youth grow collectively and individually, achieving empowerment both locally and internationally.

Connect with CAYA
The Family Centre, 65 Hanson Avenue, N2N2H6 Kitchener Ontario
Website: www.cyouthassociation.wixsite.com
Email: [email protected]
Luka Atak
Founder & CEO, Canadian Aweil Youth Association

12/12/2025

3954 likes, 416 comments. “How do you feel about this?”

11/09/2025

About Luka Atak
Luka Atak is a community-driven leader and the Founder & CEO of the Canadian Aweil Youth Association (CAYA), based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. He is known for his dedication to empowering African Canadian youth, particularly youth from the Aweil region of South Sudan—through mentorship, leadership development, and community engagement.
Through his work with CAYA, Luka focuses on strengthening multicultural understanding, creating meaningful volunteer opportunities, supporting students in developing employment skills, and guiding young people toward leadership roles within their communities. He has collaborated with various community organizations, schools, and service agencies to build programs that foster confidence, education, cultural pride, and social responsibility.
Recognized for his strong vision, Luka encourages dialogue, innovation, and collaboration among youth. His passion for service, cultural connection, and youth empowerment has earned him respect both locally and within the South Sudanese diaspora community across Canada.
Driven by integrity, cultural heritage, and a belief in collective success, Luka Atak continues to inspire young people to become active contributors to their communities and future leaders of tomorrow.

11/09/2025

Saint Augustine Primary & High School/Orphanage Development Project
• Goal: The project aims to build a school and orphanage in Aweil and surrounding villages in the state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, South Sudan.
• Need: The initiative addresses the fact that about 1,000 children in the local area were not in school due to nearly ten years of conflict.
• Status/Needs: CAYA has the space available and has started running some classes, but is actively fundraising to cover the first year of operation, including staffing and caring for the initial 150 children. The organization is seeking to raise approximately $80,000 to cover these initial costs.
• Long-term Vision: The ultimate goal is to raise enough money to support the education of all the local children not currently in school.
Broader Vision in Aweil
Beyond the school project, CAYA's general vision for the Aweil province encompasses:
• Community and Youth Development: Engaging in activities that develop the community and its youth.
• Health and Social Concerns: Addressing health and social concerns within the community.
• Economic Opportunities: Generating job-creating activities and youth leadership development initiatives.
CAYA relies on donations, partnerships, and volunteers to achieve these goals.