The Social Entrepreneurship Challenge 2022, in collaboration with Albeda College Economie & Ondernemen and with the support of the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, took place from 19 to 22 April and featured groups of MBO students working on sustainability challenges from the social entrepreneurs Stichting De Roodkapjes, Forever Plants Group, Gered Gereedschap in collaboration with Bouwmaat, GroenCollect BV, NUL TEEN ART, Patijnenburg, Perst Social, rotterzwam, Savvy and stricter. Taking place over the course of a week, the aim of the Challenge is to make an impact and to increase entrepreneurship skills among MBO students.
This year a total of 170 students, 10 social enterprises, 24 teachers, 14 experts and 5 jury members took part. In addition, Chiel Versteeg from Tony’s Chocolonely spoke and Marianne van Keep from Verstegen Spices & Sauces and CSR manager of the year gave an inspiring presentation!
Experience the story behind the product
During the final, presented by Han van Nieuwaal, 10 groups pitched their ideas to the jury consisting of students Nyan Htaw Ramarn and Nadir El Karraz, Marc Pieterse from The Young Digitals, Executive Director Suzanne Langbroek and member of the Executive Board Simone Fredriksz. The central theme during this 4th edition of the Challenge was ‘creating perspective by inspiring young people to get started as social entrepreneurs’.
The winning pitch was Savvy, a startup that focuses on reducing single-use plastic and the transport of water. They do this by making super-concentrated cleaning agents and hand soap, with which you can refill your bottle again and again together with water. Their question was “How can we convince as many people as possible that truly sustainable cleaning products are not packaged in single-use (recycled) plastic?” The winning group convinced the jury with their creative ideas. As they explained it: “We have the idea to open a pop-up store. A place where you don’t just sell soap, but experience the story behind the product. If you also do this in the right neighborhoods within Rotterdam, those where people have a little more to spend, e.g. Hilligersberg, you will reach the right target group!” It is the inspiring ideas and an energetic and good presentation that impressed the jury. So a deserved win!
“Through the Challenge, students experience that there are enormous opportunities in social entrepreneurship. For people, the environment and themselves! MasterPeace is the connecting factor here between education and social entrepreneurs.” Teacher Albeda College Economics & Entrepreneurship
