Enactus: Topical Skin Cream? Prescription Diabetes Medication? or Student-led Community Service Opportunity?

Now, as a first-year at UGA, coming from a significantly smaller Gainesville State, one of the first challenges I considered was "How can I get involved and downsize my campus?" So, I did my research in clubs and decided to join SIFE, aka "Students in Free Enterprise," recently re-dubbed "Enactus," for its immaculate track record of community service and networking opportunities.
Despite the hustle and bustle of the freshman experience, I can honestly say that I am glad to have added some extra portions to my plate, as it has definitely made these past couple months much more fulfilling.

What SIFE, or "Enactus", seeks to do is take community service, and apply an entrepreneurial twist. This means looking at a community, coming up with a new and inventive approach to service, and then creating a business model to get the wheels turning. Our major projects include "Let's Can Hunger" a can drive, but also at its heart, a sustainability project, and "Money Matters," a series of smaller projects with the intent of promoting financial literacy from K-college. For more information on these projects and details on how to get involved check it out @ Sife.uga.edu. Or for more information on SIFE/enActus in general check out: enactus.org

Now, one of the team's biggest questions this year was "How can we expand the demographics of the money matters program beyond college students?" Wanting to be the hot new rookie on the block, of course my hand shot up into the air, landing the responsibility of lower-elementary outreach. Now, I guess when you say "let's make a savings project for kids" it all sounds well and good, but nothing's ever as simple as God intended. These are my struggles and "aha" moments as I stumble and triumph through a crash course to Project Management.

Side Note: When we heard that our club would officially be called Enactus, there was a big initial hush across the room, followed by fits of laughter. Our initial thoughts were a little like: "If this is some lame  7 word acronym, it's going to be a bloody revolution" and "Hmmm I think my grandma has a skin ointment with the same brand name," but if you watch the video linked above, it sheds some light on the new logo, and at least for me, seems somewhat appropriate to what our community goals should be.

Until next time,
                           
                          -The Waffle House Kid