October 12, 2005 Source: Wilfrid Laurier University:
http://www.therecord.com/links/links_05101281456.html Laurier business students inspired by international competition Her Wilfrid Laurier University team didn't win, but business student Courtney King said representing Canada at the Students in Free Enterprise World Cup championships held in Toronto last week was in itself a winning experience. The seven-member Laurier team, which represented Canada in the competition for the third consecutive year, had the chance to meet business leaders and young people from 45 different countries. Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) is a global organization of young people who are dedicated to changing their communities by teaching others how to develop economic opportunities and businesses. This competition gave them a chance to showcase those educational programs. "The people we met were incredible," King said. "To listen to the other students and to hear what they are doing in their own countries was absolutely inspiring," she added. A team from the University of Zimbabwe ended up winning the cup, beating out the first runner-up team from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. The Laurier team didn't advance to the final round, but it did receive a Spirit of SIFE award, which goes to the team that best exemplifies the values, passion and purpose of the Students in Free Enterprise organization. Steve Farlow, executive director of the Schlegel Centre for Entrepreneurship at Wilfrid Laurier University, was at the competition to support the team. 'AN EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE' He said about 25 students from Laurier watched the three days of competitions in Toronto and "it was an exceptional experience." But when the Zimbabwe team members described their initiatives, they were clear winners, he added. Their programs are having a huge impact in communities that face overwhelming obstacles, Farlow said. "They are dealing with survival issues, such as children infected with HIV and working with extremely disadvantaged people," he said. "So we understood completely why the judges chose them to win the world cup." In fact, the Laurier team invited the Zimbabwe team out for dinner to celebrate their win, Farlow said. The Laurier students described the 22 educational outreach programs they and their classmates are involved in running, in Canada and abroad. In Canada, they run everything from entrepreneurship courses to help inmates at the women's prison rebuild their lives to teaching children and high school students about ethical business practices. They are also involved in programs run in other countries, such as Egypt, Farlow said. rsimone@therecord.com
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