SIFE at Stenden South Africa

‘To bring together the top leaders of today and tomorrow to create a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business.’

Stenden South Africa is very proud and excited to announce to start of its new out reach initiative, SIFE. Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) is a non-profit international organization that engages students with their local communities to help uplift them in various economic and business related initiatives. SIFE has over forty countries that take part each year with over forty-two thousand students who participate, making a total of one thousand five hundred active teams.

These initiatives are strategically put together by a number of today’s top business leaders who have joined SIFE in the hope of implementing the SIFE slogan of ‘Doing well by doing good’. Participating organizations are required to each form challenges and competitions that are designed for the engagement and participation of students in tertiary institutions with the local community. Each challenge and competition is based upon business and economic related initiatives.

Students must harness the business knowledge they have been taught in the classroom and apply it to real world business issues as part of effective and efficient teams. SIFE is challenging and team orientated, it teaches responsibility, motivation, communication and the skill needed for the planning and executing of projects. All of which are needed to become a socially responsible and highly effective business leader.

SIFE holds challenges for participating universities to compete against each other and are given the opportunity to present their results and projects to rival universities. Stenden South Africa is participating in the nationals on the 5th and 6th of August and hopes to reach the finals to be held in California during October. If won Stenden South Africa shall go on to America for the annual international competition that is reserved only for the winners of each country and top international business leaders.

Students who compete in the SIFE challenges and competitions compete against other tertiary institutions in South Africa who are also part of SIFE South Africa. Examples of other participating universities in South Africa are University of Cape Town, Rhodes, University of Johannesburg and Monash. Stenden shall compete against these universities and more to hopefully win in the national competition.

SIFE is a brand new initiative taken on by the staff and students of Stenden South Africa, as most will know Stenden South Africa shares the campus among students on grand tour from Netherlands and South African students who reside on the campus all year. This initiative brings both groups of students together as there is now a newly elected board made up of South African students for SIFE that hold positions such as funds and sponsoring, marketing, human resources, chairperson, secretary, treasurer and presentation. These board members are responsible for tasks such as leading the board on their efforts to spur the growth of SIFE, recruiting other students to join SIFE, gain public awareness of the initiative and gain sponsorship from sponsors all around the country, preparing for the crucial presentations, collecting and budgeting of funds, taking minutes and acting as vice to the chairperson. On the grand tour side of things SIFE is continued by the hard work of the students studying entrepreneurship. Their work has already begun in the heart of the Port Alfred township by building an entrepreneurship centre for the benefit and growth of the local community.

Below you will find pictures and job descriptions for each of the Stenden South Africa SIFE board members.

Chair person – Noluthando Lesoalo

The chairperson of SIFE is expected to over see all operations of the rest of the board members, the chairperson is expected to be up to date with all SIFE advancements and achievements, while giving direction and authority to the board members.

Secretary – Ntlalontle Gola

The secretary must keep minutes of board meetings and send them to the necessary people. The secretary may act as vice to the chairperson when needed, must also be kept up to date with SIFE advancements and achievements.

Funds and Sponsoring – Nandi Williams

Funds and sponsoring must gain affiliations with existing sponsors of SIFE international and bring in possible future local and national sponsors. These sponsors are needed for the sponsorship of Stenden South Africa’s SIFE initiatives, other internal costs that need to be funded are travel and SIFE clothing for participating students.

Human resources – Lauren Prince

Human resources are in charge of recruiting fellow students of Stenden South Africa into the SIFE initiative and allocating them in the correct departments and competition teams. Making sure everyone involved is satisfied and motivated for their cause.

Treasurer – Emile Van Niekerk

The treasurer works out the necessary budgets for SIFE projects, administration and SIFE clothing. The treasurer also works with money going in and out and keeps track of it, noting where it came from and where it is going.