An enterprising and creative student team has been recognized in a regional competition for their possible solution to the food security challenges experienced by many students.
The Enactus team on stage in Calgary before their regional competition win.
The Camosun College Enactus team took first place at the regional competition in Calgary on March 14 and 15, 2024. The social enterprise team wowed the judges in the Alumni Innovation and Impact Challenge category with their socially relevant meal kit project designed to help tackle food insecurity on campus.
The Campus Quisine meal kit is a response to the increased cost of living and high food prices that many students are experiencing. As part of their market research for the project, Enactus members surveyed 230 Camosun students.
“We learned that 10.9% have extreme and chronic lack of regular access to safe and nutritious food,” says Enactus Camosun president, Max Hintz. “45.2% have accessed the Camosun College Student Society’s food bank this year. The results affirmed that food security is a very pressing issue for post-secondary students.”
Empowered by this information, the Enactus team aimed to create healthy and affordable meal kits for students. They designed easy recipes with simple ingredients and worked with Camosun Tourism and Hospitality instructor, David Pritchard, to test the recipes and assemble the kits. Pritchard also coached the team on culinary skills and guided the packaging process to ensure the meal kits were fresh and healthy. The team tested the product with the student population at a pop-up sale on campus in February and sold out within two hours.
“It’s been incredible to support the team in finding what they’re passionate about and watch them work and learn together,” says faculty advisor Coralee Czinkota. “I was so proud to see the students work hard and believe in what they’re doing. The regionals win was very validating.”
Second faculty advisor, Brian Feltham, adds, “The Camosun Enactus team was competing against established teams from across Western Canada, some with well over a decade with Enactus. This team started in October 2023 with a small group and big ideas. They’ve accomplished so much in a short period of time, and there’s more to come.”
For next steps, the Enactus team will head to the national competition in Toronto, May 14-16. They’re using the momentum from the recent win to recruit new members from all across Camosun and prepare for the full launch of Campus Quisine next Fall. The Enactus team has already started thinking about their next projects, and will continue forging relationships on campus and in the community to make them happen.
Enactus is a global network of student leaders committed to using business principles, innovation and entrepreneurship to make a positive social impact, with chapters in 33 countries and a membership base of 42,450 students.
The Enactus team aligns with Camosun College’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan goal of Responding to Community Needs by making it possible for students to excel in building relationships that serve the college community and their peers.
Learn about Enactus
Enactus brings together students from a variety of programs and backgrounds to work on social enterprise projects and build leadership, networking and problem-solving skills.
Contact information
Roseanne Harvey
Marketing & Communications StrategistCamosun College