Partner Article

Creating sustainable change

Anelise Siddle of Fast Forward Now, sets out her thoughts on creating sustainable change in education.

I write this having recently returned from the annual Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) UK National Competition, and having been inspired and moved by this event, I believe more people should know about the fantastic social investment students across the globe are making.

SIFE is a worldwide not-for-profit organisation created in the USA over thirty years ago with the mission to ‘bring together the top leaders of today and tomorrow to create a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business’. Students form SIFE teams on campus to develop educational outreach projects that truly empower those in need.

There is a true paradox in the job market currently. There is an average of 70 applicants per graduate job, but big businesses are not filling their places. Why? Because a degree on its own merit doesn’t count for much anymore. Some students are leaving university without the business skills, commercial acumen and interpersonal skills necessary for the workplace.

SIFE tackles this issue by allowing students to develop their skills whilst making a difference. This isn’t merely a case of ‘giving a man a fish’, but ‘teaching a man to fish’. Students expand their personal skills and transfer business knowledge into the community. To give an example, SIFE Newcastle, of Newcastle University, recently designed, developed and delivered a series of business workshops with a community group in Meadowell, to encourage enterprise and raise aspirations. The transfer of knowledge inspired one particular lady to pursue her hobby of jam and chutney- making as a profitable venture. SIFE teams often have international projects too – SIFE Newcastle work with a framing co-operative in Rwanda to improve agricultural practices and transfer business knowledge to help to secure a better income for its inhabitants.

Students are empowered to make a difference as they have access to a wide range of support within the University. SIFE Newcastle are supported by Rise Up, the enterprise and entrepreneurship agenda at Newcastle University, providing the students with access to valuable advice, support and local businesses.

The SIFE year culminates in an annual competition, where 32 UK university teams compete on a national stage to showcase their projects. The team who has most effectively empowered people by applying business concepts to improve their quality of life and standard of living wins the UK competition and goes onto the annual World Cup, this year held in Washington D.C. and backed by Hillary Clinton. SIFE Newcastle this year won an award for diversity and made it through to the semi- final rounds!

SIFE teams work with business advisors in their local community to plan and conduct their projects, providing a fulfilling way for business professionals to give something back and to go one step further than merely ticking the CSR box. Individuals can actively use their skill set to invest in others, who go on to directly impact beneficiaries, who pass their knowledge onto others and so forth, creating a social investment chain. Fast Forward Now has supported SIFE Newcastle since 2003 because of the value of the inspirational projects and difference it makes to people’s lives, as well as aligning with our ethos of developing enterprising skills.

SIFE really is a fantastic concept. Students are more employable, companies are safe in the knowledge that their CSR strategy is truly having an impact on the community, and most importantly, those in need are empowered to help themselves climb out of poverty. Students across the world are creating real, sustainable, social change by investing in human potential.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anelise Siddle .