Rotary Newmarket hosted it's annual Akina Social Enterprise Challenge Award at Remuera Golf Club on Tuesday 2 October 2018.  A packed house of members and guests heard pitches from 6 challengers seeking to win the $10,000.00 prize to be paid as seed capital for successful enterprise. Akina for those who are unfamiliar with the entity is a social enterprise incubator established by the Todd and Tindal Foundations to foster and develop social enterprises – businesses with a social or environmental focus. Before members heard the pitches of each of contestants we hear from Amina Ahmed a member of last years winners Cotton Seed. She gave us an update on how the seed capital payment to that entity had been utilised. She told us that the funds had been applied to purchase new sewing machines and other items. The funding was also used to pay for advertising and materials for the clothing they produce. In addition a new school is being opened in South Auckland focusing on Maori and Pacific women. There were initially 16 applicants for the Social Enterprise Challenge. These applicants were whittled down to a selection of 6 who faced the judges (in this case members of Newmarket Rotary.) Those whose pitches were made via video presentation were; The Debt Charity Project. A project aiming to help people with debt issues pay their debt in an ethical manner Art For All A project aiming to help disabled people produce and sell art to the community in a safe environment. Team Up A social sports application whose developer funding to enable expansion of the application which seeks to assist those who want to participate in casual sporting activities rather than more structured club sports. Whenua Warrior A project aiming to bring to the community through workshops agricultural techniques enabling all to grow gardens and feed themselves in a sustainable manner. Auckland Bio-Engineering A project aiming to use bio –engineering to deal with marine infestations such as mediteranean fan worm.  Edible Organic Garden A project aiming to grow its activities in the organic gardening field by extending its offerings to the public on line. The service presently offered has a significant following and the aim was to increase that to the extent that the project could pay for itself. After seeing and hearing the pitches members voted, a la dragons den for the winning enterprise. The outcome of the vote was that The Debt Charity Project was declared the winner. In the picture, top right, President David Bradshaw congratulates Clemmie Baker who received the award on behalf of the Debt Charity Project. Well done to those that participated and well done to the Debt Charity Project |
