An student team from Camosun College has been recognized for their creativity in creating a possible solution to a growing issue of food security experienced by students.
On March 15, the Camosun College Enactus Team took first place at the Enactus Canada Regional Exposition in Calgary for their “socially relevant” meal-kit project, called Campus Quisine, aimed to tackle food insecurity on campus.
As part of the alumni innovation and impact challenge category, the team surveyed 230 Camosun students and found that almost 11 per cent of those surveyed had “extreme and chronic lack of regular access to safe and nutritious food,” according to a news release. Also, more than 45 per cent of the students accessed the school’s food bank in the past year.
The team then worked with a tourism and hospitality instructor to design the kits with simple, fresh and healthy ingredients and recipes. They tested the product at a pop-up sale on campus 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,” faculty advisor Coralee Czinkota said in the release. “I was so proud to see the students work hard and believe in what they’re doing. The regionals win was very validating.”
The Enactus team will go to Toronto in May to compete in the national competition and they plan to do a full launch of Campus Quisine in the fall.
The competition aims to promote students who use business principals, innovation, and entrepreneurship to make a positive social impact on their schools and communities.
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