University College Cork (UCC) has been named the winner of the Enactus Ireland National Competition, held in person for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, and will complete in the Enactus World Cup in Puerto Rico later this year.
The winning team presented two projects, ReFrame and Ceangal, the former of which focuses on plastic waste and how to transform it into new useful products, and the latter a candle business where all products are made by asylum seekers and profits go back to them and people in Direct Provision.
Other participating teams submitted innovative projects including Renu, which makes composting accessible with an at-home smart compost system; Digital for Youth, a digital skills education programme for secondary school students, and Anytime of the Month, a sustainable social enterprise tackling period injustice.
The UCC teams will be flown to Puerto Rico for the Enactus World Cup, taking place from 30 October to 2 November, by corporate partners Aer Lingus.
Some 36 countries will present their projects, which must align with UN sustainable development goals and generate real social impact, at the World Cup. The goal of the event is to build the next generation of socially conscious leaders.
Karina Howley, head of corporate citizenship and diversity at KPMG and Enactus board member, said: “Sustainable business practices have never been more important.
"Enactus provides real-world opportunities for students across Ireland to bring their social entrepreneurship, creativity and commitment to life and we’re so proud to support them again this year.”
Enactus Ireland chairman Terence O’Rourke said, “On behalf of Enactus and the whole judging panel, I would like to congratulate the winning team from UCC and wish them luck for the World Cup.
"The initiative, innovation, and dedication shown by the winning team demonstrates the wide-reaching impact that young people can have on our community.”
“I would also like to congratulate all the participants, whose projects provided great competition for the winner and deserve recognition as well."
Photo: The winner of Enactus Ireland National Competition for 2022, University College Cork (UCC) from left: Hazel Young; Timothy McGrath; Michelle Cox; Elvis Seporatitis; Neassa O’Sullivan; Sam Spillane, and Terence O’Rourke, chairman of Enactus Ireland. (Pic: Naoise Culhane Photography)