A team of QUT Business School students helping to mentor migrant women and training homeless people to get jobs will compete against teams from 26 other Australian universities at the 2015 Enactus Australia National Competition.
The Enactus QUT team, including president Emmy Singh and her fellow business students Sinna Keurulainen, Andrew Trubshaw, Sushant Chawla, Sejal Jamnadas and Nikhil Kumar will present two projects at the competition which is on in Melbourne from 7-9 July.
Ms Singh said while they were proud of being finalists in 2013 and 2014, as well as winning the 2013 Spirit of Enactus Award, they hoped to do even better in 2015.
"We will present our Discover project which, in partnership with Communify, mentors migrant women business owners and holds a regular network event for them at Mu'ooz African Restaurant, West End," Ms Singh said.
"One of the women involved has been assisted with her hair-braiding business and now has a website, Facebook page and Instagram account, along with an ABN. Another is running a henna tattoo business at local markets and a third has started up a bicultural consultancy business in partnership with a local legal agency.
"The other project which we will take to the nationals is Many Ways Forward which aims to provide training to homeless individuals to help them re-enter the workforce, many of whom have just exited corrective services and are struggling to re-integrate.
"The Many Ways Forward program involves short, intensive training modules and work experience at participating small businesses."
Guided by academic advisors at QUT, and business experts, the Enactus QUT members create and implement community empowerment projects around the globe.
"The Enactus experience and associated projects not only transform lives, it helps QUT's business students develop the kind of talent and perspective essential to leadership in an ever more complicated and challenging world," said Professor Robina Xavier, Executive Dean of the QUT Business School.
"It also complements one of QUT's key objectives which is to provide our students with real world experience and prepare the next generation of leaders in industry, research and society."
Enactus is an international organization that connects student, academic and business leaders through entrepreneurial-based projects that empower people to transform opportunities into real, sustainable progress for themselves and their communities.
Media contact:
Amanda Weaver, QUT Media, 07 3138 9449, amanda.weaver@qut.edu.au
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au
