A logo with two hands, one holding a flower and the other watering it, and the words 'CÉGEP' and 'Climate / Du Climat' in French.

Climate CEGEP (Climate Emergency Grassroots Education Program) is an eight-week, community-based education initiative designed to equip marginalized communities with practical skills for climate resilience, survival, and solidarity. Operated under the authorization of the Neighbourhood Action Centre (NAC-CENAQ), the program is independently managed with the long-term goal of becoming self-sustained and self-financed.

The curriculum, called Post-Apocalypse 101, blends high-tech solutions (e.g., mesh networks, cryptography) with land-based practices (e.g., urban farming, water systems) and direct action training (e.g., street medic skills). Workshops are hands-on, 1–2 hours in length, and include theoretical components.

Core deliverables include:

  • A structured, equity-focused curriculum led by expert instructors

  • A governance model with defined roles and community participation

  • Outreach and engagement with grassroots movements and partners

The program will run in two phases:

  • Program development and preparation: March–August 2025

  • Main delivery: September 1 – October 31, 2025

Climate CEGEP aims to foster long-term, scalable, and transformative climate preparedness rooted in justice and mutual aid.

Group of young women sitting on a blue tarp in a grassy outdoor area with trees in the background, some writing or drawing on clipboards, and a person standing in the distance with a backpack.
A classroom or seminar room filled with diverse students seated around tables, some using laptops or taking notes, while a woman in a red jacket and floral skirt stands at the front speaking or presenting. A projector displays slides on the wall with botanical images and text.

Curriculum topics include:

  • Urban Guerilla Farming

  • Mushroom Cultivation

  • Countryside Farming (for individuals relocating outside urban centers in response to climate impacts)

  • Water & Electricity Systems (skills for functioning without centralized infrastructure)

  • Radio, Satellites & Mesh Networks (alternative communication systems)

  • Cryptography & Cybersecurity (ensuring secure communications and data protection in an adverse social environment)

  • Mutual Aid & Community Resilience Strategies

  • Additional topics based on community needs and expert input

Open notebooks with drawings and writings, colored markers in plastic packaging, and a bag of snacks on a blue tarp.
Two women sitting at a table, holding jars with dark contents, smiling at the camera in what looks like a casual indoor setting.
Group of people walking through a grassy field towards trees on a cloudy day.

Meet the team behind Climate CEGEP!

Sebastian Villegas

Andrés Gil

Reena Mensingh

Farida Fakhry

If you’d like to facilitate or attend workshops, have any questions, or get involved in some way, please contact cegepduclimat@nac-cenaq.org.