Students from Okanagan College represented Canada on the global stage this past week, as they presented their social enterprise business at the Enactus World Cup, being held in Puerto Rico.
They would finish fourth, out of 32 teams.
Photo Credit: ContributedMembers of the OC Enactus team in Puerto Rico.
Enactus is an international social entrepreneurship project competition for university students around the world. It is organized by Enactus, which is a non-profit organization with headquarters in Springfield, Missouri.
OC's team won the national title back in December, which earned them the right to represent Canada on the global stage at the World Cup.
Their projects created are the Unusually Good Food Co. and FruitSnaps, two businesses that collect and use apples that have fallen to the ground in orchards, that would otherwise be thrown out.
The Unusually Good Food Co takes the 'unusual' apples and creates apple juice and other projects, while FruitSnaps turns them into apple chips and donates them to local schools, community organizations and developing countries.
Photo Credit: ContributedUnusually Good Food Co. apple cider.
"We are so proud of this team and of all Okanagan College students, alumni, faculty and staff who have over the past 17 years been a part of Enactus OC," said Dr. Neil Fassina.
"Their creativity, commitment and passion inspires all of us. Our OC team – Team Canada – tackled food insecurity and diverted 35,000 pounds of food waste through their projects, which continue to thrive and will have even greater impacts for years to come.”
Reaction to the success of the team in Puerto Rico has stretched throughout the provincial government, with ministers effusing praise on the team.
“The home-grown Enactus OC team is putting British Columbia on the map and helping to build a stronger food economy here in B.C.” said Lana Popham, the BC Minister of Agriculture and Food. “Their social entrepreneurship, drive and care for the land and those around them is so inspiring to me and to their community and will help to ensure a resilient food future in B.C.”
For more information on the team and the businesses, please click here.
