Students from the French University in Cairo will represent Egypt at one of the biggest student competitions in the world next month, the Enactus World Cup, held this year in China. The annual event exhibits what the freshest minds have to offer to their communities. “Enactus” stands for Entrepreneurial Action Us, three words representing thousands of students and dozens of inspirational ideas that could change lives. Previously known as Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), this international non-profit organisation is the largest student network in the world, including 37 countries and over 66,000 members. Founded in 1975, it builds partnerships between business executives, university students and academic leaders to help students use what they have learned to solve real-life problems for real people and communities. Enactus Egypt started in 2004, explains Fatma Serry, its president and founder. “The organisation is active in 40 universities by agreement with the Supreme Council of Universities and it has the largest network of students in Egypt,” Serry said. “Enactus connects the business world with student ideas and faculty advisor outreach projects. The winner of the national competition then has the right to represent the country abroad.” Five universities were runners-up this year in the competition to represent Egypt in China, including the French University in Cairo, Suez University, and the universities of Monofia, Kafr Al-Sheikh and Cairo. The French University won for its design of a washing machine run by pedal power. During the course of 10 years working with Egyptian students, Serry remembers the many development ideas that have struck her, even if they did not win the competition. Students from Fayoum University invented a steam-powered car-cleaning machine, for example, and these can now be bought for some LE3,000. The machines use much less water than conventional machines, and the design is being sold in Fayoum. Another team from Kafr Al-Sheikh made potpourri out of cotton-plant leaves, the idea being both Egyptian-branded and environmentally sustainable. A Suez University team came up with the idea of recycling car tyres and invented a water distiller that works on solar energy. However, Enactus as an organisation faces problems despite its local successes. Due to the global rebranding of Enactus hence the new name, the Ministry of Higher Education have not signed their evaluation form for almost one year now. All Enactus Egypt money is Egyptian even our partners are on the business advisory council of Enactus . “We are an Egyptian entity, and we give Egyptian students the hope that they can work in development,” Serry said, adding that every effort was being made to renew the group's licence with the ministry.
