UCE Involvement:
Summer Startup Programme 2017/18
Bootcamp 2017
Kathmandu Social Enterprise Challenge 2017
Entr矇 $85k Challenge 2017
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Other
厙ぴ勛圖 Diversity Society (DeSoc) General Exec 2017
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What project are you working on at UCE?
Aspirations, a social enterprise providing a practical pathway to employment for young people with intellectual disabilities. We provide hospitality training and practical experience for people with these disabilities. Lately, we have changed our business model, rather than running Aspirations as a training caf矇 ourselves, we are working with other caf矇s to run our training programmes using their premises. This means we dont have the responsibility of running a caf矇 which works out better for everyone involved.
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How did you find the UCE Summer Startup Programme?
It was so good. The people especially, students and mentors, everyone had something valuable to give. It was really good to get external feedback because when youve been working on the same project for a while, you do kind of get stuck in your own head. I was working on Aspirations for a while by myself before the programme and before meeting, Jacyntha, which was a lot harder.
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What are peoples reactions to Aspirations?
Theres a lot of really good support because there is not really anything like it in New Zealand. I got a lot of useful input out of the programme and made changes that made my venture more. The Summer Programme was good getting to a point where we have a strong enough proposal to show others. The reaction has been largely pretty good and everyone wants to help which is nice.
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So, you now have a team mate, how did you meet her?
Jacyntha was actually the first person I talked to at the UCE Summer Startup Launch. We clicked straight away and eventually became friends. Her venture fell through a week later and she needed a venture, so it was natural for her to join me. We both have experience and passion for this kind of work, so it just made sense.
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What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
The biggest challenge has been having an idea that people are hesitant to give feedback on. I didnt have a lot of experience and if people arent willing to give you that feedback it can be quite hard to figure out where to start. Once you find your feet though, it starts falling onto place.
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What is your most memorable moment this summer at UCE?
Getting 26 out of 25 for our cheesecake at the My UCE Summer Team Rules morning tea competition. I am very competitive so was very pleased with that score.
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What do you find interesting about being an entrepreneur?
Its totally not what I expected to do while being at university! I fell into the whole entrepreneur scene by chance and have ended up really liking it.
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What advice would you give to another student considering starting up their own venture?
Just do it. If you dont try it, you dont know if itll work out. Dont worry about making mistakes, if youre never going to try it, youll never know if its going to work out.
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What are your plans for this year?
To keep studying and keep working on my venture. The first stage we hope to have out by midyear is the first stage of training for the adult trainees. I also want to have a venue finalised and a group of trainees to help them start working towards their qualifications.
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And what are your aspirations for the future?
In 5 years I would like to see myself graduated! I would like to see Aspirations roll out around the country not just Christchurch but to other cities that can benefit. I would also like to see out first group of trainees working out in the community, this would be good to see and I think it would start to change peoples mindset about it all.
