On May 30th, Lambton College was abuzz with the entrepreneurial spirit of Grade 7-8 students from St. Anne, Sarnia, and St. Michael, Bright’s Grove Catholic schools as they participated in the first annual Intermediate Enactus One Future Championships. The event spotlighted a range of student-led initiatives, each deeply rooted in one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and provided students a platform to share their vision for a better future.
Two classes from each St. Clair Catholic school presented their community-focused projects, competing against peers from the Lambton Kent District School Board. Through ambitious thinking and decisive action, the young changemakers were challenged to develop social enterprises aimed at solving pressing issues within their local and wider communities.
Among the contenders from St. Anne were Lily and Isobel, who presented their project titled Monarch Butterflies. In collaboration with their school’s parent council and various community partners, they embarked on creating a Butterfly Garden to preserve butterfly habitats. Their initiative also includes a plan for selling seeds and trowels to raise funds and awareness about habitat preservation.
Bioremediation was another notable project from St. Anne, presented by Ailex and Joanne, with Cyndi and Alexa absent. Bioremediation is a process using natural microorganisms to clean industrial wastewater. The young scientists tested different bioremediation methods with the long-term goal of providing cleaner drinking water solutions for communities lacking access to this vital resource.
The Environmental Miracle project, presented by Ella, Ivy, Gia, Leah, and Elsie from St. Michael, tackled deforestation by partnering with the City of Sarnia to plant two mature trees in Mike Weir Park. They collaborated with Ice-Cream Galore to host an ice cream day at their school, successfully raising $700 for their cause.
The Little Library Book Box was also an inspiring initiative from St. Michael, presented by Adam, Hunger, and Edgar, with Delia absent. The team designed a Little Library Book Box using 3D software, gaining approval from the municipality to place it in a public park in Camlachie. Partnering with Grade 12 Construction students at St. Pat’s, they are set to build and install the book box for community use.
“The students’ remarkable research and compelling presentations were truly inspiring,” says Scott Johnson, Director of Education. “Their professionalism, entrepreneurship, and innovative solutions have filled the entire St. Clair Catholic community with immense pride.”
After rounds of initial presentations, the Environmental Miracle team from St Anne and Bioremediation team from St. Michael were selected as finalists. In the competition’s final round, both teams excelled, delivering standout presentations to students, parents, and staff on Lambton College’s main stage.
“The incredible time and effort these students invested in their projects was evident in every presentation and in their celebration of their peers’ accomplishments,” says Chris St. Amand, Leader of Experiential Learning. “Their dedication shows in the impressive outcomes of their projects and impactful presentations here at the Enactus One Future Championships.”
The success of this inaugural Intermediate Enactus One Future Championships sets a promising precedent for future events, inspiring more students to engage in social entrepreneurship and community development. As these young innovators continue to develop their projects, their contributions will undoubtedly make lasting impacts on their communities and beyond.
