A head for business – A heart for the world

http://enactus.org/country/south-africa/

Enactus is an international network of student, academic and business leaders who have made a commitment to create a better world with better leaders—individuals who have the ability and are willing to put forth the effort to make a meaningful contribution to their communities, and are working together to improve the lives of others.

Regarded as the World’s Premiere Business Network, Enactus has established the largest global business and higher education network in the world. This unique network brings together the knowledge of professional business educators and the expertise of business leaders to focus the potential of university students preparing for leadership roles in business.

Working in partnership with business and higher education, Enactus mobilizes university students around the world to use the knowledge gained in the classroom to address real world business and economic issues in their communities. Enactus students form teams on their university campuses and develop outreach projects that teach market economics, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, personal success skills, business ethics and environmental sustainability.

Through empowering others, the students gain a practical understanding of how market economies work and develop a culture of ethical business conduct. Mentored by faculty advisors and local business advisory boards, Enactus Teams spend the academic year conducting educational outreach projects that make a lasting difference in their communities.

Enactus Team projects are working laboratories through which the students develop confidence as well as leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. Their efforts have a profound effect on at risk youth, students of all ages, small and large businesses, and needy and disadvantaged groups, turning them into heroes in their own communities.
History
Enactus originated in the United States of America in 1975 and was established in South Africa in 2001.
It was originally a regional leadership training program attended by university students who were required to teach their communities what they had learned and then be judged competitively on the outcomes of their efforts.

The principle remains the same today but the scope has been broadened to encompass both teaching and learning through practical application of knowledge and skills gained at university in the wider community by means of student-designed outreach programs.

Enactus is built on respect and integrity in every project and program throughout the year, and it is with a profound education and willpower that the DUT Enactus students will inspire and make a difference worldwide.

Enactus Mission

To bring together the top leaders of today and tomorrow to create a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business.

It is the vision of SIFE DUT to bring about systemic change in our community. SIFE members come from all areas of the University giving the group an interdisciplinary agenda. With community service and leadership as the focus, we believe that we can achieve the maximum impact with the best use of resources, by focusing on a project support role and engaging in strategic conversations with various organizations within the business end entrepreneurship communities.

Philosophy of Enactus Mission

We believe that true leadership grows out of the team environment and that ‘people support what they create’.

We believe that teaching and learning are interlinked and that the best form of teaching recalls the maxim ‘Teach me and I will forget, show me and I might remember, involve me and I will learn’.

We believe that the best way to help people is to equip them to use their talents to the best of their abilities: ’give me a fish and you feed me for a day; teach me to fish and I eat for a lifetime’.

We believe that the best way to improve our own lives and the lives of others is through ethical practice of the fundamental principle of a free society: to serve others by providing value.

Community Programs

Enactus students leverage their classroom experience, the expertise of their faculty advisor and business advisory board, and the resources of their university to develop projects that empower people to live better lives.

Their projects focus on helping aspiring entrepreneurs achieve success, equip the unemployed with skills to find productive employment, teach families how to gain financial security, and bring economic development to struggling neighbourhoods.

Leadership & Career Connections

Our leadership and career initiatives are designed to foster an environment for personal and professional development among the participants as the placement of students and alumni with companies that support Enactus.

The Enactus program prepares university students for the real world by challenging them to address real world problems today. As Enactus students go about the process of organizing their team, developing community outreach projects and participating in a series of competitive events, they develop teamwork, leadership and communication skills that set them apart from the average university student. It’s the reason so many top companies have identified Enactus as a leading source of effective, responsible business talent.

Enactus programs are active at more than 2 000 campuses in 48 countries, including 26 of South Africa’s universities.

Regional & National Competitions

The culmination of the Enactus program is an annual series of competitions that provide a forum for teams to present the results of their projects, and to be evaluated by business leaders serving as judges. Teams compete first at the regional and national levels, then at the international level when the national champion teams from each country meet at the Enactus World Cup.

Enactus competitions are challenging, team-oriented events that create a sense of accountability and motivation for teams to continually improve the quality of their projects. They also provide an opportunity for collaboration and best-practice sharing, further strengthening the value of the learning experience and the overall effectiveness of the program.

Enactus World Cup

The national champions represent their respective countries at the annual Enactus World Cup and compete among themselves for the World Championship.

“The Enactus experience essentially builds a bridge between classroom learning and real life business practices – my first step into the real world.”

– Enactus Student