Alpha Arts and Science College emerged winner at SIFE India National Competition

The Winner SIFE Team of the SIFE India National Competition, will advance to the 2009 SIFE World Cup in Berlin, Germany from 4-6 October. Each year, countries world over conducts Regional and National Competitions to select the best winning team to represent the country at the SIFE World Cup. Business leaders select the winners based on which teams they believe created maximum impact through their entrepreneurial outreach projects by creating economic opportunity for others. This year 34 colleges participated from different states in India. The projects of these students were judges by a panel of CEOs, MDs from companies like HSBC, Kellogg’s, KPMG, Reliance Money, Pepsico India etc.

While presenting the award to the winners, Chairman of SIFE India, Keshav Murugesh said that, "SIFE offers these students the opportunity to develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills through learning, practicing and teaching the principles of free enterprise, thereby improving the standard of living for millions in the process. We endeavor to teach important concepts to college students through educational outreach projects, including market economics, entrepreneurship, financial success, and business ethics thereby training the future business leaders who would work towards the success of their communities and thus our country."

Final competition held at The Lalit intercontinental, Mumbai on 3 July 2009. Regional Rounds of Competition held at The Claremont Hotel and Convention Centre ,Delhi on 19 June 2009, Hotel Savera, Chennai on 25 June 2009, & Hotel Residence Convention Centre, Mumbai 1 July 2009.

SIFE is an international non-profit organization active in more than 1400 university campuses in 40+ countries. SIFE teams create economic opportunities in their communities by organizing outreach projects that teach: market economics, entrepreneurship, personal financial success skills, and business ethics.

Alpha Arts and Science College: Project I - Seaweed cultivation. Over the last two years the Alpha SIFE team has been working with the fishing community of a Rameshwarm and have provided with an alternate occupation of Seaweed Cultivation. The dried seaweed is being marketed to Pepsico and the income of the community has gone up by 100%. Project 2: Genisis. The Alpha SIFE Team in collaboration with the SIFE Nottingham team form UK, identified the cattle breeders near Pulicat as their target audience. The teams devised an organization strategy for the improvement of cattle fodder thereby enhancing milk production. Project 3: Pulp It. Thally district in Karnataka which is known for its tomato cultivation is facing potential threat from the market. The SIFE team in association with an NGO Crenio, devised a mechanism whereby the tomatoes could be converted into tomato pulp/puree and marketed to corporates. The required training and equipment for the same was provided by the team.

Some of the projects represented at finals SIFE National Competition are:

Madras School of Social Work (MSSW) : Project : 1. Established a business model and impacted the agricultural community in South TamilNadu through cultivation of the anti-cancer plant Vinca Rosea. Their project helped uplift nearly 100 farmers. Project 2: Their other project-Sirugugal targeted the mentally challenged community at Sri Arunodayam, Chennai. The children of this community were trained on making candles, handicrafts and other such products.

Project 3: Since 2007, MSSW SIFE has been associated with the gypsy community, which is famous for jewellery making. They have improved their standards of living by teaching them creative and more ethical business practices.

Rajalakshmi Engineering College: Mileage of Autopreneurship. The REC SIFE Students targeted the mechanic community and improved their standard of living by introducing them to technical and entrepreneurial skills. Nearly 75 mechanics were put through a 2 tier vocational training course on servicing two wheeler automobiles. This theoretical cum practical certificate course has opened up job opportunities for these mechanics in renowned automobile companies like Hero Honda. This project has also brought out several entrepreneurs termed as ‘autopreneurs’ who have successfully set up their own garages for servicing and repair.

 Loyola College: Project I: PONEEM. The Loyola SIFE team in association with its entomology department were instrumental in the development and marketing of a BIOPESTICIDE named PONEEM. This biopesticide was patented and the SIFE team extensively marketed the product after all safety checks to nearly ----- farmers. Dealerships between the farmers and the teams have been signed to ensure sustainability and good ethics.