Meet The Execs: Caroline Turner

The long anticipated interview with the managing director of Enactus Sheffield, Caroline, is finally here. Caroline has put her heart and soul into managing the company, so its not surprising that when asked what she would do with 24 hours and a limitless budget, the first thing she thinks of is simply "sleep". 

Name and course?
Caroline and I am a second year accounting and financial management student. When you first signed up as a member last year, did you have any idea how much you would get involved in Enactus? No! Definitely not, I was very happy working in HOPE and loved my team and the great work the project does. In fact, when Bethan, the international director, approached me to step up to the HOPE Nigeria team I actually said no twice. The somehow I just got more involved and ended up shadowing the previous managing director, still certain that I was fine in my original project and reluctant to move. Having said that I couldn’t be happier that I became more involved as now Enactus is my life. I would definitely recommend that everybody signs up to the rotational trainee scheme! Where was your favorite holiday?
My all time favourite holiday was to Thailand where I got to ride elephants and feed baby tigers - it was incredible! I would love to go back one day. Describe your bedroom? Colourful - mainly pink! I also got 500 pictures printed out last year so there’s not much free wall space. If you had 24 hours to do absolutely whatever you wanted, with no responsibilities or a budget, what would you do? The possibilities to do something really exciting are endless but I think I would just catch up on sleep, and probably visit my family as I definitely don’t see enough of them! What was it like taking over from Jahaan, the previous managing director? A little bit scary to say the least! She was MD for 3 years and left a legacy of incredible projects and pushed the company forward to change lives more than anyone else ever has, so as you can imagine, that’s big shoes to fill! Jahaan is still involved though and I talk to her regularly, I couldn’t be more grateful for the work she put into the company and the help she gives us now. Favourite game on your iphone? Candy Crush Saga takes up WAY too much of my life, although I also snapchat one of my sisters about 100 times per day. Tell us your favourite university memory.
Probably during freshers when we decided to take 7 of our office chairs and race them down the hills in Ranmoor - it was great fun although nearly led to a broken leg! We didn’t get caught (although maybe I will now) but some others tried to copy us and promptly broke their chairs and got caught by security - so please don’t try and copy this! Describe a typical day in the life of Caroline? Wake up around 8 or 9 in the morning, do Enactus work, go to a variety of meetings, I spend about an hour replying to all my emails, go to lectures, and if I have time spend some time with my housemates. (They’re usually laughing at my failed attempts to cook edible food!)

Dinner in the Dark at the World Food Festival

Last night, Dinner in the Dark featured at the yearly World Food Festival, with the intention of showing people what this project is all about. At the festival, we allowed participants the choice between chicken, beef and veg; but their dish was selected randomly from a box, before being served to them blindfolded. It was amazing to see people having all kinds of fun and experiencing their food in a way they never had before, forcing them to heighten their other senses while trying to feel and find the food.

With over 15 stalls presenting a huge array of dishes, from handmade Indian kheez to African kachumbari and syrup bandung to satay sticks, diners were spoilt for choice. As well as food from Japan, India, Kazakhstan, and many more, there was entertainment in the form of music, dance and cultural expression. A highlight for myself was the salsa dancing; which invoked as much flame and enthusiasm for the onlookers as the African dishes had half an hour earlier. The performance, the atmosphere and the delicious food (which was finished far too quickly) made for an absolutely beautiful evening, which we will definitely be returning to in 2014. 

PWC Quiz Challenge

Last week quiz enthusiasts Jonny and Mat were led to victory by quiz team leader Paddy

When the boys turned up at the quiz it became apparent that a quarter of the questions were on PWC... which had not been prepared for. There were 11 Leeds teams and only one lowly Sheffield team consisting of Enactus members. 

Despite this, our Enactus Sheffield quiz champions managed to win by one point, securing £1000 for the social projects and a place in the National finals in London!

Congratulations to Jonny, Mat and Paddy (left to right) for their impressive brain power! Here they are pulling a "winners" pose:

HOPE Local- Update.

For this update I spoke to Josephine, a member of one of the HOPE Local projects. I wanted to know how the team were settling into their project; and This is what Josephine told me:

"Last Friday we went to a training day session at the safe house, where we were told about the aims and practices of the safehouse itself as well as their rules regarding confidentiality and boundaries. This is very important for the security of the beneficiaries we will work with.

On Wednesday we had our design workshop with the women. We began the session by introducing ourselves and giving an outline of the project, including what business skills they would acquire through the making and selling of jewellery, as well as the care packages that we will offer to them at the end. We then went on to show the women different mood boards and pictures of different styles of bracelets, of which we narrowed down to 6 choices which the women liked the look of and looked easy to make. My group leader Hollie will create a prototype of the final two designs.

The women all seemed really enthusiastic about the project and were very keen to get involved and get started. There is also the possibility that more women will be joining from the safehouse in the weeks to follow. Here are some picture I took some pictures during the design workshop."

Thank you Josephine!

Beautiful handmade jewellery made out of recycled material

 All of the crafts are handmade by independant womans groups in Kampala, Uganda from recycled materials such as seeds, banana leaves and magazines. The women get a fair price; 4 times then they would normally be able to sell it for.

50% of the revenue goes to funding the sustainable water projects accross Africa and the other 50% goes to an NGO which funds social development in Kampala, working with vulnerable children in slums.

Models: Codrina & James

Watermade presents... H20hhh!

First off, what is Watermade?

Think about how you spend an average day. In the UK, one of the first things you do in the morning involves clean and readily available water. In fact, the average person in the UK uses 150 litres of water every single day.

Yet roughly ONE TENTH of the worlds global population don't have access to clean, safe water. Watermade wants to make clean, safe water a reality for as many people as possible.

 "Everything made good."

In light of this Watermade are collaborating with Penelopes Sheffield for the 6 hour experience that is H2ohhh!

We’re bringing you folk, indie, samba, funk, soul, reggae, world beats and more in a night of musical talent from Sheffield and beyond. All in the name of charity.

Also featuring DJ OLOJEE (Finlay Green) and ZOLA (Myr Wakefield)

£5 ADV - At Penelopes, Arundel Gate, Sheffield.
https://www.facebook.com/events/664932196870478/?fref=ts

Tickets can be bought in advance from 
http://www.seetickets.com/Event/watermade-presents-h2ohhh-/penelopes/752047

Meet the Execs: Bethan Rimmington

Bethan, now a masters student (partly because she just couldn't bring herself to leave), is the project director for a selection of the international projects in Sheffield's portfolio. I shall let her explain... 

Name and course? 

Bethan Rimmington, Masters in International Development 

What was your first impression of Enactus when you joined? 

 I didn’t really know what to think of it at first, I joined the HOPE City Hearts project (just City Hearts back then) because I wanted to do something to help the women but hadn’t wanted to volunteer in the safe house. There were some very odd meetings in the first few weeks when we were discussing making the women in HOPE look after chickens and sell the eggs which I am glad was never implemented! The first time I ‘got’ Enactus and the power it can have was when I sat down with the Project Leader and did some ideas generation and planning for the project. That was when I realised that, despite having only just joined as a member, I could have a real impact on this project and therefore these women’s lives. I haven’t looked back since. 

Where is your favourite place in Sheffield? 

 I really like the Dam House looking over Crookes Valley Park on a sunny day. Mainly because of the view but also because the previous managing director of Enactus Sheffield used to work there so I have really lovely memories of spending time with her and some other Enactus friends there! I also went there for my graduation meal which was lovely. 

Any plans for after graduation? 

I’m fairly sure you aren't meant to ask final year students that unless you have already heard they have a job lined up… I want to go into social enterprise and International development so will be applying for jobs in that area when I (finally!) graduate. 

What made you so interested in international projects? 

After my first year in Enactus I volunteered with a charity called Tenteleni in a secondary school in South Africa. (They are currently recruiting NOW for next summer – I would recommend it to anyone!). It was such a great experience and within a week I had completely fallen in love with Africa. It’s such a beautiful, vibrant and friendly place. I came back thinking how great it would be to be have the skills and confidence to work there and after a few more months of Enactus I started to question why I thought I didn’t have the skills and confidence?! It was then I decided I was going to combine the two things I love and try and work in social enterprise in Africa. Since then I have been on two trips to Nigeria to implement HOPE Nigeria and am currently working on some more of our international projects this year. 

Favourite food in the world? 

I really love lemon pudding as my mum has made it for almost all of my birthdays since before I can remember. It’s not the same unless it’s a bit burnt though…. 

When did your alarm go off this morning? 

7am this morning. Kills me as I am not a good morning person but if I want to balance a masters, a job, Enactus and a position on the Tenteleni committee then I’ve got to do it! Radio 1 helps get me up. 

Best moment of Grantham 2013? 

This year was my second Grantham and it was yet again such an amazing experience. I love the feeling of being part of something so big, and how proud Jim, the executive director, is of all his Enactus students. My favourite moment was at the posh dinner (well, as posh as a dinner at PGL can be). Jim got on stage and simply asked “What happened at your University that wouldn’t have happened if you weren’t there?”. He then played a video that showed all the amazing projects from around the UK and it was such a special moment knowing you were in a room of hundreds of students who were going out of their way to help others and would leave a legacy, no matter how small, of something they had made better. 

Would you describe yourself as a good driver? 

Haha, so I’m guessing this has come up because I have been the designated Enactus driver for three years now! In my first Enactus year we practically ran the City Hearts project out of my car and after transporting all the shea butter for HOPE Cosmetics it will now forever smell of raw shea butter. So I am a pretty confident driver which unfortunately means I sometimes don’t pay attention and have a few near mishaps. In six years of driving though nothing serious has ever happened, well... unless you count me knocking down the wall outside of my house. But I maintain it was so old that all it needed was a tap and the whole thing would come down…

Grantham 2013

The highlight of the Enactus UK year was this weekend; the annual Grantham training weekend. A mixture of team members, team leaders and executives traveled down on Friday morning to enjoy a couple of days of team building, networking, meeting other universities, and a healthy amount of wine.

Here is an account of what Jonny Morris, a first year member, experienced over the weekend.

"I didn’t really know what to expect from Grantham; it was pretty strange being back at a PGL centre, I thought I’d left them behind in year 6! Friday consisted of the ‘Development Centre’, which was full of things about CVs, interviews, and how to find a job or a placement. Being a 1st year, it was a pretty daunting concept, and I’d only written the first draft of my first ever CV the night before. However, it was incredibly useful, and actually pretty fun – I learned loads, and even cheekily handed my CV to someone from SC Johnson who was giving me feedback on my presentation skills. As an Enactus member from Lincoln told me, ‘he who dares….’! 

Meeting teams from around the country was a really awesome experience, and it fully dawned on me that I had joined a community of motivated, caring and passionate young entrepreneurs that stretched all over the world. There were far too many names and faces for one weekend! Hearing the way people talked about their projects made me excited to see how I could improve mine with the knowledge they shared. It also made it all the more fun when all these inspiring people (including a few from Enactus Sheffield…) showed off their best moves at Saturday’s inevitable cheesy disco. Winning an inadvertent dance-off with a Southampton executive and witnessing Kirsty’s obsession with S Club 7 manifest itself shows how little idea I had about what this weekend would be like. 

As well as finding out about the wider Enactus community, it was great to learn about Sheffield’s heritage. Our projects were mentioned in quite a few of the seminars, and some of the sessions were also taught by Sheffield alumni. I’m lucky to be part of such a big team, with so many characters in it! The outdoor activities we did together over the weekend also showed that we’re pretty good at working together, even if there are some problems we can’t get right first time (see picture of me stuck handcuffed to Jo…). 

Grantham was an exhausting experience. However it was so worthwhile, and I know I’ve gained loads from it to take back to my project team. I can’t wait to get going with everything I’ve learned; I suppose, as my elder sister warned me, I’ve become thoroughly ‘Enactified’…"

Jonny and Jo during one of the team building exercises:



























Trish, another first year member, wants everyone to know how helpful she found the weekend in terms of inspiration for her project, and enjoyed the outdoor activities. "As university students, if throwing ourselves off a 15 foot high wooden pole first thing in the morning doesn’t appropriately convey our passion for social enterprise through Enactus, then nothing else will!" From the looks of things, Trish also particularly enjoyed trampling on the backs of some team leaders:

As always, Grantham was a hugely inspirational weekend, and despite the hideously early starts, everyone will be talking about the weekend for months (probably because of the hideously early starts). After this yearly event all teams go back to university with new ideas and ways of solving potential problems in the projects. Sheffield would like to say a big thank you to Enactus UK and the Enactus Alumni.

Sheffield Steelers vs. Sheffield Bears

 On the 13th November, the stage was set at Ice Sheffield for the University's Sheffield Bears to take on the Sheffield Steelers in what promised to be one of the most exiting fixtures in the ice hockey calendar.

Amongst hundreds of fans, Enactus members joined in supporting the university teams attempt to take on the Steelers. For those of you who haven't seen an Ice Hockey match before (like many of us before last Wednesday); you have been missing out all your life.

A partnership between the Steelers and Enactus Sheffield meant that tickets sold for the one off event had raised money for social projects within Sheffield. The professional Steelers team stormed to victory leaving the University team defeated, but every member of the audience left with a smile on their face. We will be back!

Dinner in the Dark

Its a Thursday night and it's time to treat yourself. You're at a restaurant with some loved ones and you can see the waiters hurrying around you, the drops of wine you have spilt on the tablecloth, the food arranged aesthetically on your plate. 

Now imagine you can't see any of that. It is pitch black. This is Dinner in the Dark.  

"You take for granted the fact that you can see what your next step is going to be; and this is mentally exhausting at first." Says Zahir Hertz, a waiter who is legally blind and serves food in pitch black in a restaurant in Los Angeles, "Then you get more comfortable with it, and when you get more relaxed you begin to enjoy it."

Serving dinner in the dark allows Zahir and others like him to still have a good job despite their lack of sight. 80% of all perception is through the eyes, and by abandoning that major sense a person is forced to rely on all the other senses, which become enlightened and heightened. This can be experienced by diners, a unique cuisine that encourages you to awaken your senses and completely re-evaluate your perception of taste and smell as you dine in complete darkness.

"Part of the game is playing with what you know, should know, don't know and don't see."

Diners were surprised how much their evening was changed and what new senses they began to experience. "I could smell it was a white wine coming before it reached the table," exclaimed one diner, "And those vegetables smelt like never before."

The purpose of the dining experience is putting together foods to challenge taste buds and your sense of taste. The dining experience as most often people eat with their eyes, but the whole eye concept is taken away and people have to have trust in the food. The chef has even done some clever tricks with the plate to help diners.


It became apparent that people found their eyes were closed as they did not need them. It was claimed they become so enlightened by their other senses that the room began to look how they wanted it to look. One diner commented "I thought it was really interesting to think about how i was visualizing dinner in my mind could have been different to someone else's visual experience at the table" 

Here you can watch the full video of the customers, chef and waiters experience

 Dinner in the Dark is also an Enactus Sheffield project at Fitzwilliam & West in Sheffield City Centre.

The unique dining experience is perfect for birthdays, anniversaries and a meal out with family and friends. We have events available on the 9th and 10th of December at very reasonable prices with wine included.

To book visit the website http://dinner-in-the-dark.wix.com/dinner-in-the-dark
Or interact with us on the facebook page 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dinner-In-The-Dark-Sheffield/224173841092761 


*

Meet The Execs: James Kirk

Meet James Kirk, the HomeMade director. He speaks about his facial hair, his love of trainers... and I think he mentions Enactus somewhere...

Name and course? 

James Kirk, second year Accounting and Financial Management.

What was it like presenting at the Enactus National competitions last year? 

Incredible! I’ve never done anything like it and I probably never will. There was a lot of hard work in the build up to Nationals – learning the ever changing script, working on tone of voice, practicing Q&A, all alongside pushing all the amazing projects we have at Enactus Sheffield to be the very best they could be, I think everyone was physically and mentally exhausted.
However it was all worth it upon arriving in London. Getting a chance to network with other Enactus teams and learning about their projects was great. We made it through the opening round, semi-final and eventually to the final round. The reception we got at each was amazing; it really illustrates how life-changing our projects at Enactus Sheffield are. In the end the judges placed us second overall in the UK. I’m hoping we can do one better in 2014. It’d mean we can all have an Enactus holiday (if you can call it that) to Beijing.
Throughout the whole process of Nationals I’ve learnt so many things that I’ve been able to transfer to my project work. It’s something I’d definitely recommend getting involved in if you want to develop yourself and take your Enactus career to the next level.

Tell me about your facial hair. 

We met when I was at secondary school, and we’ve never left each others side. But seriously, I always have to have a little bit of something going on, after a clean shave I have such a baby face. I’m not looking forward to getting a job for this reason alone, I’ll be forever mistaken for a lost 12 year old boy.

How many pairs of Nikes do you own? 

Six. This consists of four pairs of Air Max 1s, one pair of Roshes, and finally a pair of Air Force 1s. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. My wardrobe is so big I once got lost and for a minute swore I could see Narnia.

Describe your ideal Saturday? 

Have a little lie in. Get some old school R&B on. It has to be pancakes for breakfast, preferably with golden syrup, and of course a good quality cup of coffee. Then I’d go somewhere nice – maybe get wrapped up warm and go to the peaks, or at least have a little adventure somewhere and go for a nice meal. Failing that, watch a classic film. I’d probably finish the day in a nice pub somewhere, all in good company of course.
 
How awesome is your Grandad? 

If you haven’t already guessed by the amount I talk about him, pretty awesome! The best plumber in Sheffield AND he once built a boat – I think he’s still fitter in his old age than I am right now. I’m a very family orientated person so I’m very close, and have a great relationship with them all. Mainly because they’re all full of hilarious stories and offer some great cooking.

What are you hoping the homemade project will achieve this year?

 I’m expecting a lot this year. I have an amazing team working hard, week in and week out, so I’m sure they can achieve the goals we’ve been set and maybe even a little more.
If you’re not clued up on Homemade (shame on you), we work with homeless individuals on a jam-making enterprise. Essentially the guys in Bevin Court homeless shelter gain transferable skills and knowledge which enables them to find employment, and once again become self-sufficient.
This year we’re looking to add much more than skills on a basic level. This may be through other activities within the business such as sourcing the fruit. Hopefully we’ll also get the guys at craft fairs, interacting and selling the jam to potential customers thus improving their confidence among other things. So far we’ve managed to secure a deal to stock Homemade jam in Just Natural, Crookes, and we should be soon appearing in other socially responsible retailers around Sheffield in the near future.
Another aspect of the project we’re working on is to build on the culinary skills the men have gained in earlier stages of Homemade and provide them with a work placement, once again furthering their future job prospects. If you haven’t already, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, you’ll not regret it!

Favourite library in Sheffield? 

Believe it or not I don’t use the library too much; in fact I took my first ever book out of the library this week (don’t laugh). I suppose it just means that uni is starting to get real, I’m sure I’ll use it more as second year progresses. As for my favourite I’d probably have to say the IC, just for the spectacular views of Sheffield you get. The view from level 6 looking south is unbelievable. If you see me in the library, now you know what I’m doing. 

What has been your most embarrassing moment since starting at university? 

There’s been a few. Being a massive lightweight? Crying at Nationals? Ask me after a few drinks and I’ll divulge further.

What are you having for dinner tonight? 

I’m actually going up to Manchester tonight to visit a few friends I went to school with, and go to WHP (sorry, not sorry). Either way I don’t get to see them too much so we’ll probably eat out. Last time I visited we went to the most amazing Mexican place tucked away down some back street; it was such a cool little place. I ordered a sweet chilli pork burrito. Sounds crazy, tastes crazier.

November November... Enactus Evening.

The 6th of November... gunpowder treason and plot is over, and even though its raining, its time to do some good for our community.

Marketing Mission are selling Steelers tickets to the Ice Hockey. Its £5 and you're guaranteed an evening like never before. They're also going to be on sale next week and from the union box office, and just incase you needed anymore convincing, here's a beautiful picture of Ryan and Stuart modelling the tickets:

And here are some choice phrases I overheard this evening in the enterprise zone:

"Is it wrong to order hair products over the internet?" James Kirk (typical)
"Lets eat all of Glenns food!" Sarah Smith (typical again)
"I want to play an inspirational quote game" Bryan Yau  (oh dear)

No one is safe from my spying ears! See you all next week!

JAM.

Jam. I like jam. Luckily for myself and everyone else, Enactus Sheffield makes jam.

A lot of people make jam, that is true. But more specifically, we make jam with a conscious. There are a lot of barriers and stereotypes that separate the homeless in Sheffield and the students in Sheffield. The students appear to have very misconstrued opinions on what has happened to an individual to make them homeless, and  the homeless believe students are wrecking society with their binge drinking and lack of consideration for anyone but themselves.

Students working with the homeless allows these barriers to be brought down and for the truth to be discovered. Those without permanent housing find it almost impossible to get themselves back on the employment ladder, as they have no referee, no support, no CV help and no experience.

This is where jam comes in.

Our jam is now stocked at Just Natural in Crookes. 
They make it. We eat it. This is the HomeMade project.


https://twitter.com/wearehomemade
https://www.facebook.com/wearehomemadesheff