By Elena Rowe//
The Enactus Club is creating change on Hood’s campus and in the Frederick area despite the ongoing pandemic.
Enactus is a worldwide nonprofit organization made up of students, teachers, academic and business leaders who are committed to using entrepreneurial action to make the world a better place. This organization is in 35 countries, stationed at 1,800 colleges and universities across the globe, and 72,000 students take part in the organization every year.
Hood’s Enactus Club is in the process of creating two new projects. The first project, Recycle the School, was initially created last spring, but because of the pandemic it was put on hold. The club, led by junior Gretchen Young, is attempting to revive the initiative this year.
“We (Enactus) would receive donated items from graduating students or residential students living off campus of items they don’t need any more like fridges, microwaves, school supplies, dorm decorations, etc. and sell those items for low prices to incoming first-year students,” Young said. “This would help lessen the financial burden of college because I know from experience how expensive it is to furnish a dorm.”
A survey was sent to the entire student body to get their thoughts on this new project. Young’s hope is that this project will last for years to come.
Another project in process, Financial Literacy Online, was an idea created by sophomore Russell Odor. This project will start out as a website, but hopefully switch to in-person once the pandemic is over.
“Financial literacy is a fundamental skill to be able to function in any capacity in today’s society,” Odor said. “It is important for Enactus to sponsor this project because it will build the foundation in the Frederick community needs to fight poverty, hunger, and crime. Everything is rooted in money and by teaching people how to save, spend, budget, and invest smartly we can start the change Frederick needs.”
Odor hopes the website will be available to the public by the end of 2021.
“We are hoping to do face-to-face seminars with people who are interested in learning how to open a bank account, how to manage their money, resume building and how to prepare for an interview,” Young said. “This will be targeted to low-income individuals or those who want to re-enter the workforce or the financial world in the Frederick Community, to help them improve their financial standing and their knowledge of these topics.”
Young said she is glad that the club has been able to make progress on these projects this semester.
“We were able to come up with a logo for Recycle the School project and the survey for the project,” Young said. “We also came up with the logo, motto and name for the financial literacy project. Right now, we are actively working on the website for Financial Literacy Online.”
Enactus was also still able to serve in the Frederick community despite the pandemic. The club hosted a winter donation drive and a blanket making event in the fall where the Hood community donated gloves, hats, scarfs and socks to be given to the Frederick Rescue Mission, a Christ- centered organization committed to providing food to the hungry, clothing and personal care.
Another successful project created by alumna Mackenzie Clark, ’20, was the Astraea project. This initiative was created to provide feminine products to women in need in the Frederick community.
Young hopes that another event, Breakfast with a Purpose, can still take place this spring. This event, in collaboration with the club’s business advisory board, typically takes place every fall where Enactus members prepare hygiene and food care packages for the Frederick Rescue Mission.
Young is appreciative not only of the projects Enactus has accomplished, but also the people she is able to work with.
The club’s vice president is Maria Kelly, Jakob Stubits is the chief financial officer, Ndeye Matou Diakhoumpa is the student engagement officer and Brianna Benge is the social media liaison. “What’s nice is that we all know each other outside of the club, so we have a good connection and friendship which makes us work well together,” Young said.
Young said she likes that everyone puts in 100% with every task and offers to help even if the task is not their responsibility.
The club is open to all majors and students can earn community service hours for Enactus’ events. Anyone interested in joining Enactus, should reach out to Gretchen Young at gey1@hood.edu or Ndeye Matou at nd1@hood.edu. Meetings are held every Sunday at 7 p.m. over Zoom.
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