Enactus SFU nets national award

The following article was published by Enactus Canada on May 6.

Simon Fraser University recognized nationally for advancing the lives of new Canadians.

Student team earns 2013 national title for efforts to empower newcomers in Burnaby.

Simon Fraser University has been awarded the 2013 RBC Newcomer Advancement Project Fund Best Project by national charitable organization Enactus Canada and proud supporter RBC Foundation. The awards presentation took place at the 2013 Enactus Canada National Exposition on Monday, May 6th in Toronto.

The RBC Newcomer Advancement Project Fund was designed to accelerate the advancement of newcomers to Canada, creating social and economic opportunities that will strengthen the well-being of communities. The Enactus team from Simon Fraser University was awarded Best Project because they were able to impact the lives of 23 new Canadians through their project, Media Minds.

Media Minds is a digital literacy program which aims to gear ESL students with video editing skills to create a mini self-documentary of their life. The goals of this program are to enhance students’ storytelling abilities and increase their employability through teaching video skills.

Media Minds was created last fall by SFU communications student Hope Wang, a Richmond resident and 2012 YWCA young Woman of Distinction nominee. As a young immigrant herself, Wang’s passion for helping immigrant youth adjust to life in Canada prompted her to found the program.

“As a country, when we welcome newcomers to Canada, we carry a responsibility to support them through this difficult transition,” said Nicole Almond, Enactus Canada president. “We are proud to recognize the Enactus team from Simon Fraser University for taking on that responsibility and, in partnership with RBC Foundation, demonstrating the difference it makes in people’s lives.”

The RBC Newcomer Advancement Project Fund Best Project was awarded at the 2013 Enactus Canada National Exposition , where more than 1,200 delegates including the country’s brightest university and college students, academic professionals and top Canadian CEOs came together to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world.

Click here to view the article in its entirety at the Enactus Canada website.

For more information on Enactus SFU, visit enactussfu.com/