A student highlight from the 2024 Social Enterprise Schools program for both Australian and Malaysian students, was the World Social Enterprise Day Australasia Online Connect held on November 21. The event brought together more than 100 students who reflected on the unique ways social enterprise can bridge divides and unite people around the world.
Through the global Social Enterprise Academy network, the five Malaysian schools and six Australian schools connected online, sharing and celebrating their Social Enterprise Schools journey. Students discovered many commonalities including; empathy for others, their drive to make a positive impact, and their entrepreneurial mindsets.
In attendance from Australia were members of the student led Social Enterprises: Calm Balm trading homemade lip balms for the Children’s Cancer Foundation. Spice Craft who served some spicy mixes to support Headspace. Whitty Fruit Co whose dried fruit retail profits went to World Wildlife Foundation. As well as Totes For Hopes selling totes and Chop Chop Boyz with their sustainable wooden chopping boards, both raising profits for their own worthy cause.
Malaysian students from enterprises such as Double Funz, Fantastic Five, Organic Veggie Spot and S.P.A.R.K Crew, shared their stories of providing pre-owned books to hospital patients and food enterprises to support lower-income families. What also stood out was how environmentally conscious students from both countries were, working to minimise waste wherever possible.
There was a lot of curiosity amongst the attendees to see the projects that students from other countries had created. Some of the questions asked between the students ranged from “how old are the students participating?” to deeper questions such as “What are you most proud of from creating your Social Enterprise?”
One student described their excitement to take part in the connect, “This has been the best thing, thanks for putting this on… it has been an honour to be a part of this!”
A student social entrepreneur from King of Money shared inspiring advice with the cohort “start with big dreams and take small steps.”
Established social entrepreneur and facilitator Catalina Gonzalez – Vivacious, joined the call as keynote speaker. “I had the best celebration of World Social Enterprise Day! 🎉🥹…I had teary eyes listening to the kids confidently telling the story of their products & services and the contributions they make to causes they care about. If all the kids think and act like this, we will have a brighter future, for sure!” 😍
Here’s to the next generation of social entrepreneurs, bridging divides across the world!