Changemaker Week activities at Georgian College Orillia Campus inspire student innovators

Oct. 9, 2015

Changemaker events are taking over the Georgian College Orillia Campus the week of Oct. 19. The Centre for Social Entrepreneurship (CSE) at Georgian is hosting a vast array of activities aimed at bringing out the inner changemaker in everyone.

“A changemaker is someone who sees a social, environmental or cultural issue and believes that they can make a positive change,” says Suzanne Addison-Toor, Manager of the CSE. “Involvement in CSE activities gives students a platform for change to help guide their vision.”

Beginning Monday, Oct. 19 students will learn how to create meaningful change through Change Generator activities led by Changemaker club president and student intern Jennifer Raftis. These activities will enable participants to think about the social, environmental and cultural issues on campus and in their community -and creative ways to solve them.

On Wednesday, Oct. 21 the front and lower foyer of the campus will be transformed into a Social Enterprise Mall in which Simcoe County social enterprises will showcase their goods and services and talk about the importance of social entrepreneurship in not-for-profit work. Confirmed vendors include Dress for Success (Barrie and Orillia), Telecare Distress Line of Greater Simcoe, Couchiching Jubilee House, Fruit Share, Good Food Box, and Information Orillia.

“Social enterprise is a critical tool for non-profits to thrive during a time when funding dollars are decreasing and competition for support is fierce,” says Courtney Willis, Development Co-ordinator with Couchiching Jubilee House. “Diversifying our funding streams is key and delivering a consumer product that also speaks to our mission, is one small way we are working hard to ensure our financial viability now and in the future.”

Any organization interested in showcasing their work in the Social Enterprise Mall can register here.