Our mission is to uplift the lives of African youth and their communities through sustainable entrepreneurship.
Responses to SE101—
What UBC Students Say
Eon Ting, UBC Team 2010
I feel that my SE101 experience was fun, exciting, and thrilling-- and at the same time, rewarding and inspiring. It was a chance for me to see the world from a totally different perspective. I was able to look at things through the international development lens, to try to understand the challenges, and help by sharing my knowledge with others. Beside learning everything from how to say hello in Swahili to enjoying the local staple of nyama choma (delicious roasted goat), I also learned lifelong lessons about operating in a business environment very different than in Canada. In Kenya many young entrepreneurs are held back by various barriers, some which are apparent and some which are harder to see. Only through working with the SE101 participants was I able to really understand these challenges and help them think of new ideas to overcome them when starting a business.
As a team our role was to foster and unlock the entrepreneurial spirit within each SE101 participant through business plan training. Teaching these lessons and seeing each participant progress through the program is incredibly rewarding. For myself, I think the SE101 experience was a challenging, yet profound and enjoyable inspiration that I often reflect on, recalling some really great memories.
Josie Wong, UBC Arts class of 2007, a member of the first SE101 team (2006), and currently a student in the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto.
I participated in SE101 in the summer of 2006. The experience was life-changing and the impact still stays with me today and guides many of the decisions I make in life.
It is a great exercise to put our knowledge into practical use through developing workshops and sharing our knowledge with youths in Kibera. Their experiences add a practical aspect to the theoretical knowledge that we learn in school. There is also a great sense of accomplishment to work with the participants to complete a business plan from scratch.
Moreover, international development is a field that is difficult to get into without any experience. SE101 provided the foundation and experience that I needed to do further work in the field. Since SE101, I have worked on international trade and development projects in South Africa, Zambia and Geneva with the Trade Facilitation Office Canada and the United Nations Development Programme. I am certain that I would not be able to obtain those internships without my experience with SE101.
SE101 is a fun, exciting and challenging experience. It is also a fantastic way to obtain leadership and hands-on experience in international development and I would recommend it to anybody who is interested in this field!
Eiston Lo, Sauder School of Business, UBC class of 2008, a member of the first SE101 team (2006). Currently a research assistant at UBC, Eiston will be starting his PhD in Management at the McCombs School of Business, University of Texas Austin, in September.
SE 101 was a life-changing experience. I have found SE 101 to be a very valuable experience, as much as it was for myself and those who took part in our program. As a business student, SE 101 was the perfect platform for me to utilize the skills I've learned and apply it at an international development setting. Years after co-founding the program alongside with the original team members and Prof. Langton, I'm thrilled to see that we are creating a ripple effect -- helping more of those in need in Africa and providing opportunities for UBC students to commit to international development. I send my best wishes to this year's team and our participants!
Katherine Cochrane, UBC Arts class of 2007, a member of the first SE101 team (2006), graduating from the University of Victoria with a MBA in International Business in 2009.
I had the privilege of being part of the SE101 team for its pilot year in 2006. The team from UBC was passionate about effective development and making this project a success in achieving tangible results in partnership with the Kenyan participants.
The dedication of the Kenyan participants was outstanding. Every day, all day, they would work hard with the team to change their dreams into their realities. Our success was contingent upon our participants' success and I am very proud that many have gone on to become successful business men and women.
Personally, the experience was so profound it provided direction for my professional life as I went on to complete a MBA in international business as I saw business function effectively as a development
methodology.
Brent McFerran, Sauder School of Business, Ph.D. student, a member of the 2007 SE101-Kenya team.
I was fortunate to participate in SE 101 in 2007. It is a valuable program where students from both continents learn so much about each other. The enthusiasm of the Kenyan participants was contagious, and I took so much from the experience. I only can hope that I gave half as much back.
Jim Atamba, Sauder School of Business, UBC class of 2009, a member of the the 2007 SE101-Kenya team.
Mambo!
Having had a keen interest in charity work and developmental projects carried out in developing nations, participating in SE101 gave me an opportunity to gain first hand experience in developmental work. The lessons and experiences I took away from the project were immense and invaluable.
As a firm believer in the phrase 'Trade Not Aid,' I found the ideals and motivations of SE101 in line with my beliefs. The project aims to increase the capacity of the participants and enables them develop their ideas into sustainable business ventures.
As a facilitator, I found the Kenyan participants extremely motivated and enthusiastic to grasp the concepts we delivered. This was excitingly challenging.
Work aside, the city of Nairobi and its people are dynamic and it was great to experience their culture. It is a vibrant city with a lot of opportunity and potential. The countryside and parks were beautiful and welcomingly different from most North American cities.
It is great to see the project still going on two years later. I wish the team of 2009 a pleasant trip but above all HAVE FUN!
Greetings to Fred and Jose', I am sure you will be meeting them
soon.
Art Law, UBC Arts class of 2007, a member of the 2007 SE101-Kenya team.
Participating in SE101, 2007, I remember: getting hot, cold; headaches, stomachaches; challenges, solutions; some pains, some gains; teamwork, footwork; seesawing between excitement and worry, tiredness and tranquility, joy and gloom; seeing things, conversing with peoples, breathing culture and always learning....Which is why it's hard to sum up my SE101 experience but I am thankful that I could take part in a project that has greatly enriched my perspective on international development within local contexts. Through SE101, I also got to apply my education and learn from a great team. To those who will undertake this opportunity too: "Bahati njema!"
Jocelyn Ling, Sauder class of 2009, a member of the 2007 SE101-South Africa team.
Participating in SE101 was probably one of the best decisions that I have made in my undergrad life. This program challenged and changed me in the way I view learning, education and teamwork. I found myself learning so much more in terms of culture and knowledge, and challenging the traditional notions of developmental work. Not only has my experience exceeded my expectations in terms of culture, developmental work and teamwork dynamic, but I also found inspiration and a sense of direction in terms of my Bcom degree.
As a result of the skills that I learnt while taking part in SE101, I have since been able to be involved with development work both locally in Vancouver and in Africa. I am also currently developing a course with Sauder which incorporates a global learning perspective encourages a more cognitive learning/educational experience and taps on the passion students have for volunteering and helping others.
Kate Sizykh, Sauder class of 2008, a member of the 2007 SE101-South Africa team.
I feel very fortunate to have been selected to participate in the SE101 program. It is invaluable to be able to experience the realities of a third world country firsthand, to travel far outside of your comfort zone and expand your field of vision. Nothing can substitute the realizations that manifest themselves when you walk the streets of extreme poverty and talk to its inhabitants.
The learning process began long before we landed in South Africa, as we fundraised, researched and prepared for this life-changing journey and the memories and lessons of this trip continuously contribute to my perspectives on life.
I plan to go back to Africa and do more volunteering. It is a fascinating place in so many ways and helping others achieve their dreams is truly
inspiring.
Kirby Leong, Sauder MBA class of 2009, a member of the 2008 and 2009 SE101 teams, and currently employed at SAP as Community Strategist.
It was my great fortune to have been an SE 101 participant in its third year (2008) because I was able to witness first-hand all the hard work that had gone into the program in previous years come together. Local students, community leaders, grassroots organizations, and government ministries all sharing, nurturing, and realizing the SE 101 vision. This program is about giving a hand up to those without access to education and training, to give them the tools and knowledge to make their entrepreneurial dreams come true. In doing so, we have the potential to impact whole communities. The best recommendation I can give for this program is to say that after participating in SE101: 2008, I committed to being part of the SE 101: 2009 team so that I could apply all that I learned to make the program even better.
Next: Get involved with the SE101 program
Last Modified on:
02/06/2010 12:27 PM
