Enactus: International Non-Profit Organization Committed to Using Power of Entrepreneurial Action to Transform Lives and Shape Better, More Sustainable World

Yonsei’s Enactus team won the Enactus National Competition held at the Coex Auditorium July 3 and 4. The team received a prize of 10 million won and qualified for the Enactus World Cup, which will take place this October in Beijing, China.  There, Yonsei Enactus will compete against national champions representing thirty-five different countries.   

Enactus, known prior to 2012 as Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), was founded in the USA in 1975.  An international non-profit organization, Enactus is a community of student, academic, and business leaders committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. Currently, there are more than 1500 university Enactus clubs worldwide, representing thirty-six different countries.  Once a year, the National Champion Enactus teams from around world meet at the World Cup, where they present the results of their community outreach projects to a prestigious group of international business leaders. Through a written annual report and live audio visual presentation, teams are evaluated based on how successful they were at using business concepts to improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need.

Yonsei Enactus won the National Championship for its “Eden Project” and “Dongne-Pagne Project.”  The first is designed to help North Korean defectors gain financial independence in this country through green construction projects and the development of eco-friendly products.  With a focus on establishing a sustainable business model, the Eden Project carried out construction in nine locations, including Seongbuk-gu and Yongsan-gu in Seoul, and it developed products such as the “Oasis Flowerpot” and “Lego Farm Flowerpot.”  The Dongne-Pangne Project strives to ensure independence and growth for local bakeshops using an alternative business model and the concept of a cooperative society. As such, the “Dongne-Pangne Cooperative Society” was organized last year, leading to a special event held at the Hyundai Department Store in Sinchon. Through this project, the team members increased brand recognition for the neighborhood bakeries, helping to provide sustainable growth for each member of the cooperative society.     

The Yonsei Enactus team members are advised and supported by Professor Kim Dong-hoon from the Yonsei School of Business.  In his acceptance speech, Moon Seong-young, president of Yonsei Enactus, said: “We would like to thank our many supporters, especially Professor Kim, for their help.  We are pleased to have contributed to the improvement and sustainability of these small businesses in Korea. We will do our best, as representatives of the Republic of Korea and Yonsei University, to achieve good results in the Beijing World Cup this October.”  The motto of Enactus competitions is “We all win,” reflecting the belief that everyone benefits when young minds use the power of entrepreneurial action to change the world.