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Student team pitches in for community
From a campaign against hunger to a crowd stunt for charity, a group of University of the Sunshine Coast students are giving back to the community using skills they’re developing in their degrees.
The six students have formed this semester’s USC team of SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise), a global non-profit organisation that works in business and higher education circles to develop social responsibility in leaders of the future.
USC SIFE president Amy Jones, 21, said the team’s first major project was doorknocking for food donations every Saturday during May for the Let’s Can Hunger Challenge sponsored by Campbells Soup.
The volunteers are asking local students and residents to donate non-perishables such as canned soup or vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal.
“It may not be widely discussed but there are families on the Coast who struggle for food and we’d rather help at a local level,” said Amy, a second-year Arts and Business student.
Further plans include a community garden in a local neighbourhood, a breakfast club for needy primary and high school children, zany fundraisers at shopping centres and a world record attempt at the “longest can-phone network”.
Members of the USC team hope to travel to Melbourne in July to make their presentations at a national SIFE event.
Amy said it was a fantastic opportunity for students to put into practice some elements of their degrees while networking with business, community and campus leaders.
“We’re eager for more students to join from any USC Faculty,” she said. “We have members from psychology and teaching, public relations and journalism, tourism and hospitality.”
Amy, who has worked in marketing at Australia Zoo, said she joined SIFE to gain experience in organisation and management.
She said SIFE was also a great stepping stone for students who enrolled at University straight from high school and had no practical business experience.
“It’s awesome because you also get to know USC staff and if you want to work on the Coast, you’re getting your name out there,” she said.
“You’re learning how to apply for grants, write proposals and business plans, coordinate marketing, report on outcomes and to track money.”
SIFE teams are active at more than 1,300 academic institutions in 41 countries.
— Julie Gatehouse