Humber Polytechnic’s Enactus team has claimed first place in a regional competition and has qualified to compete in the nationals later this spring.

Enactus is a global organization committed to using business as a catalyst for positive social and environmental impact. It utilizes team-based experiential learning and competition to catalyze young people to take positive entrepreneurial action in their communities.

Humber’s team – Imann Abella, Bruna De Carvalho Aiala, Aashna Manocha, Ekus Singh and Shounak Kapoor – was declared champion of the Enactus Canada Regional Exposition – Central Canada Innovation and Impact Challenge, powered by Enactus Alumni, League B. The University of Toronto Mississauga’s team finished second while Northeastern University finished third.

The Innovation and Impact Challenge empowers Enactus teams to identify, create and deliver projects that address real-world problems.

Imann Abella is a Business Administration student and co-president of Humber Enactus. The team’s project, dubbed Reshade, seeks to breathe new life into discarded makeup by transforming it into paint. They have a process in place to turn the old makeup into paint and are exploring ways to recycle and repurpose the packaging the makeup comes in, including mirrors, plastic and cardboard.

“The win was all thanks to the hard work of the team and I’m so proud of everyone,” said Abella. “The whole team wanted to do something that was good for people and for the planet and we’re very proud of what we accomplished together.”

Hxlarisse Alyana Idala, who’s enroled in Humber’s Business Management – Financial Services program, served as project manager. It was Idala’s idea to turn the makeup into paint and, when the group heard it, they loved it right away.

Idala’s sisters enjoy makeup, and both have drawers filled with products. However, a lot of it doesn’t always get used up.

“I could take 10 lipsticks out of their drawers, and they probably wouldn’t notice,” said Idala with a laugh.

Idala had watched videos online about transforming non-traditional materials, such as flowers, into paint and that’s where the idea for Reshade first began to crystalize.

Highlighting Humber’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, paint provided by the Humber Enactus team was used by the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre on a mural for the LGBTQ+ Resource Centre at Lakeshore Campus at the end of March.  

Idala, who is queer, said it was amazing to know the project would be used to support the LGBTQ+ community that she belongs to. There are also plans to collaborate with other Humber departments on other painting projects.

Susan Kates, a coordinator and professor with the Business Management - Entrepreneurial Enterprise program, said the students received a standing ovation after their presentation and waves of applause.

“When one of the judges said ‘Wow, what a great idea. I’m going to give you my makeup,’ I had a sense the team was onto something with this project,” said Kates. 

The team met with Humber President and CEO Ann Marie Vaughan as part of their experience. They also developed important skills such as time management, team building and conflict resolution. Kates added that Enactus has many benefits for students who participate as it offers important employability skills and a chance to develop soft skills while getting them involved in the community.
 
Kates along with Harpreet Sandhu are faculty advisors for the Humber team.

Abella developed and improved leadership and presentation skills through Enactus and strongly encourages others to join as it can have many benefits.

“I would tell everyone left and right to join this team – they’re amazing,” said Abella.  
 
The team is now preparing for the 2024-2025 Enactus Canada National Exposition in Calgary from May 6 to May 8.

Find out more by visiting the Humber Enactus team website.