QPID started as an organization consisting of a few dedicated engineering students who shared the will to help people and the interest to work in a developing country. The first three years of QPID's summer program took place in Guyana, South America. Initially QPID projects were executed with host communities but independent from other non-government organizations.

Two waves of cooperants worked in Guyana for seven-week terms. Cooperants were faced with adjusting to a new culture, figuring out the best means to get things accomplished and meeting the project goals within this short time frame.

Since the first project in Bartica, Guyana in 1990, QPID has continued to evolve and challenge itself as a student development organization. QPID has earned the reputation of an effective and efficient development group working with communities in Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guyana, India, Nicaragua, Northern Ontario, Nunavut. Currently QPID involves students from a variety of disciplines who work on projects related to their respective areas of study for three-month summer terms. Other positive changes to the organization include the recent emphasis on strong working partnerships with non-government organizations (NGO's), professional organizations and companies based in our host communities.

In addition to summer experiences, QPID now draws extensively on the resources and knowledge of partner organizations to raise awareness about development issues among Canadians. The emergence of a global economy and the internationalization of business and political structures, have created new challenges for both developed and developing countries. The interest in the educational aspect and Kingston projects of QPID are growing rapidly as young Canadians increasingly recognize the value of a global perspective in today's world. QPID specifically secondary school students in the Kignston and surrounding area.

QPID strives to critically reflect on our summer projects and our campus and community initiatives for continued improvement and growth. By engaging in reflective, critical thinking and informed action all aspects of QPID work towards local and global change.