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19 Jul 2011 11:31:28
A team of budding entrepreneurs from the University of Bedfordshire is joining forces to offer advice to local homeless charity NOAH (New Opportunities and Horizons) Enterprise.
The five students from a variety of backgrounds are part of the University’s branch of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and are working with advisors from the University’s Careers and Employment Service and graduate M Sameer Ali Jinnah to address needs in the local community.
Irina Bucsa started up the team after hearing a SIFE representative talk at the University. Other members include Merle Neiderhuefner, Ana Konova, Heidi Petijova and Tautvydas Tamulevicius – all studying various courses at the University.
SIFE is an international network that brings together a diverse group of university students, academic professionals and industry leaders around the shared mission of creating a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business.
NOAH Enterprise was chosen as an ideal partner. It has a long history of collaboration with the University and the SIFE team felt they could start to address the very real need in their local community.
Irina said: “It’s a small team but we have big ideas. We’re all totally committed to bringing about positive change, and NOAH Enterprise seemed a really useful place to start.”
The team undertook research to establish how NOAH Enterprise could best improve their business plan and fundraising efforts. They did a shadowing programme and initial market research and have just presented their findings to the NOAH team.
Tautvydas said: “SIFE’s aim is to empower people by offering proof of possible change. We won’t be actively fundraising for NOAH but believe our business suggestions will provide a sustainable way of increasing funding.”
Their approach is two-fold: firstly, to conduct market research to better focus the retail side of the charity, and secondly to work to increase awareness in the community.
Next year the team is hoping for new members to keep up with their ideas. Tautvydas said: “The great thing about SIFE is that you can use your own skills to really make a difference. If we have more people we have from different areas of expertise, we could make such a huge impact.”
Irina added: “It looks great on your CV too. The University of Bedfordshire Students’ Union has been really supportive. Ciaran O’Brien has helped us with sponsorship and we all have SIFE t-shirts now.”
Mentor Paul Harrison from the Careers Service at the University said: 'SIFE creates an opportunity for a wide range of students supported by staff at the University and employers to showcase their abilities and help local people at the same time. We have a great team at the moment but want more students to come forward with ideas for projects in the local community.”
The team were invited to the Spirit of SIFE awards – a national award ceremony to honour recently formed SIFE groups. They were also honoured by the University recently, where they won Best Student Society and Outstanding Achievement Awards.
The team has a Facebook page where you can find out more. Search SIFE Bedfordshire at www.facebook.com
Latest news» 2011» July» Students team up with local charity NOAH Enterprise
