Aston University’s student-led organisation wins first place in National Social Impact Competition
A student-led organisation at Aston University, dedicated to using entrepreneurship to create positive social change, has won first place in the Sodexo: Stop Hunger Foundation incubator challenge presented by Enactus UK.
The competition challenges students to develop innovative solutions to some of society’s most pressing problems, with Enactus Aston presenting two projects at the National Expo held at the London Excel.
Enactus UK is a network of leaders committed to using business as a catalyst for positive social and environmental impact. They educate, inspire, and support young people to use innovation and entrepreneurship to solve the world’s biggest problems.
Project 1, called ‘Chance for Change’, addressed food insecurity, unemployment and the language barrier faced by refugees. It aimed to aid their resettlement and nurture a sense of belonging through the ‘Sustain-a-Plate’ initiative, which is a solution to help migrant integration into communities.
Project 2, named ‘A Drop in the Ocean’, used an innovative device to clear waste from waterways and clean the canal of pollution and plastic waste, keeping it and the surrounding areas clean and beautiful. Enactus Aston partnered with Canal and River Trust and Warm Earth to bring about perceptible changes and invite others to combat pollution.
Enactus Aston’s took home a cash prize of £1000, which they intend to use to amplify the reach and scope of their projects and further fuel their efforts in migrant integration.
Avni Ahuja, from Enactus Aston, said:
“We are delighted to have won the Stop Hunger category in the Action for Impact competition.
“The success of the ‘Global Recipe Book’ and ‘Food Fest’ can be attributed to the efforts of those who worked tirelessly behind ‘Sustain a Plate’.
“This victory is a recognition of our efforts to create innovative solutions that address some of society’s most pressing problems. We are committed to continuing our work and using entrepreneurship to bring about positive social change.”