PAST PROJECTS
GROUNDS TO HEAT
"Grounds to Heat" is a now-inactive project that focuses on sustainability and environmental responsibility. In collaboration with industry partners Green City Initiative and Robinson Innovations, the project aimed to transform coffee ground waste into a useful and eco-friendly energy source. The process involved collecting used coffee grounds, which were then subjected to a pelleting process to create biomass pellets. These pellets, derived from coffee waste, served as a biomass fuel source. The initiative not only diverted coffee waste from landfills but also contributed to reducing reliance on conventional fossil fuels for heating, aligning with principles of environmental conservation and renewable energy.
ON BOARD: SUPPORTING SYRIAN NEWCOMERS
On Board, although inactive, had a significant impact during its active phase. This initiative focused on aiding the resettlement of Syrian newcomers in Kingston, Ontario. It conducted transit orientation seminars, on-bus orientations, and follow-up programs at St. Lawrence College, addressing language learning, employability, and integration challenges. By providing essential tools and support, On Board aimed to empower newcomers toward independence in their new community, demonstrating the potential for replication in other Canadian contexts.
CUSP: INNOVATION BOOTCAMP
The primary objective of CUSP was to change the perception and stigma surrounding innovation, encouraging participants to apply innovative thinking in various aspects of their lives. The bootcamp was structured around four priming factors of innovation: interpersonal skills, design mindset, adaptive thinking, and cross-cultural collaboration. Participants engaged in activities such as Vinyasa yoga, mentalist performances, escape room challenges, and community interactions with local entrepreneurs. The program aimed to foster creativity, communication, and collaboration, essential skills for future employability. CUSP also included a discussion panel with entrepreneurs, providing valuable insights and advice. The success of CUSP contributed to the foundation of innovation within St. Lawrence College, promoting a culture of creativity among students.
KINGSTON YOUTH FINANCIAL LITERACY SYMPOSIUM
Collaborating with DECA Kingston Collegiate Vocational Institute (KCVI), the Kingston Financial Literacy Partnership, and the Boys and Girls Club of Kingston, the symposium aimed to provide experiential learning for approximately 200 grade 7 and 8 students. College and high school volunteers, along with industry professionals, conducted engaging sessions covering various financial literacy topics, including budgeting, differentiating between wants and needs, goal setting, saving and investing, fraud prevention, and navigating technological resources. The hands-on approach involved practical activities such as grocery shopping on a tight budget. It not only equipped students with essential financial skills but also empowered them to make informed decisions.
LUUMI
Enactus St. Lawrence College, in collaboration with LUUMI, addresses the environmental impact of plastic pollution through its "Unplastic the World" initiative. Recognizing the substantial amount of plastic waste in Canadian landfills, the project promotes LUUMI's 100% platinum silicone products, including lunch bags, bowls, straws, and lids, as sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics. The team actively engages in fundraising, providing a toolkit featuring LUUMI products for communities seeking to raise funds while making a positive environmental impact. The successful test at St. Lawrence College laid the foundation for future sales, with the initiative aligning with Enactus SLC's overarching goal of using entrepreneurial action to create positive transformations and contribute to a more sustainable world.
MANAGE YOUR ENERGY
Enactus SLC's "Manage Your Energy" initiative aims to demonstrate the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of conserving electricity. Through interactive workshops in the community, participants learn low-cost "energy-saving life hacks" and create DIY energy-saving tools. The project received support from Utilities Kingston, leading to the development of video tutorials on understanding energy bills and formulating strategies for reduction. In tandem with the "Grounds 2 Heat" initiative, which repurposes coffee grounds into sustainable heat sources, "Manage Your Energy" has taught over 150 people to minimize electricity waste. Enactus SLC's green projects have directly impacted 70 individuals and indirectly influenced an additional 67, contributing to the organization's broader mission of fostering positive environmental change by reducing waste.
LEVEL UP
A series of activity-based workshops focusing on personal and professional development through soft skills. Aimed at educating and establishing simple, adaptable methods for developing soft skills, empowering the future workforce.
YOUNG WOMEN INNOVATORS CONFERENCE
The Young Women Innovators Conference (YWIC) offered grade 7 & 8 women from various school boards in our community the opportunity to gather at St. Lawrence College for a day of fast-paced and dynamic innovation.
Our team of college student volunteers, partnered with two dozen female community leaders, offered these young women education, mentorship, female role models, and the opportunity to explore entrepreneurship first-hand. We encouraged these young women to not limit themselves and to take advantage of the wide world which awaits them, resulting in a more confident, innovative and adaptable mindset.
COURAGE WITH DR CONGO
Enactus SLC collaborated with community partners Cathy Cleary, the Marketing Program, and Shopify. Students created and managed an online e-commerce site after being engaged in learning how to be e-commerce literate. The students learned this through the Shopify Badge Program which was created for our students by Shopify and follows a three-step process; Shopify Basics, Shopify Seller, and Shopify Live
The store is still operating and running online check it out here: https://couragecongo.com/
SHOPIFY BADGE PROGRAM
Working alongside Shopify, we taught students how to create and operate their own e-commerce Shopify website. They earned experience by completing a three-step process designed for our students; Shopify Basics, Shopify Seller, and Shopify Live. They then put these skills into action, expanding their e-commerce literacy.
RECIPES FOR AN EMPTY WALLET
Recipes for an Empty Wallet was a food and financial literacy program that aimed to improve the quality of students’ eating habits by assuring their capability to purchase healthy grocery choices on a tight budget. This program consisted of a recipe book, comprehensive workshops and video tutorials developed by our culinary specialists.
Recipes for an Empty Wallet explains how you can make the $7.49 per day food budget and still eat nutritious and delicious meals. All of the recipes in our cookbook met the Canadian Food Guide requirements.