IHC New Zealand, the Dunedin Youth Action Committee, & Dog Rescue Dunedin benefit from Ignite input this semester.
Each semester, student-run charitable organisation Ignite Consultants pairs groups of the best Otago University students with local Dunedin not-for-profit organisations, helping with business needs such as finance and marketing.
This semester, IHC New Zealand, the Dunedin Youth Action Committee and the newly created Dog Rescue Dunedin all benefitted from the students' talent.
Some stunning recommendations were presented to the organisations at the end of the semester, leading to another group of satisfied clients for Ignite! A fundraising pub quiz was also held this semester at the Bog, which generated loads of awareness and raised funds.
This followed on from the successes of the first semester projects with Habitat for Humanity, the Cancer Society, and Presbyterian Support Otago. The students involved got truly stuck in and developed some incredible results. The client organisations were thrilled, and even one student Is now working for one of the organisations involved.
Ignite Consultants Executive Director Jamie Orsbourn said 2012 was an exciting year, as a completely new executive team took on the challenge of building the ties between Otago University and the local Dunedin not-for-profit community. He sees it as a win-win for all involved.
"The organisation benefits, as they often have limited human resources, and sometimes do not have some of the business skillsets required, and the students have the opportunity to develop the skills learnt in the classroom, while giving back to the community they are living in.
"After seeing the successes of 2012, it is hard to believe that Ignite has only just come to the end of its third year in operation. Thank you to all the students who took part this year, to all the client organisations, all the mentors, and to the University for all the support you have given. We look forward to seeing what Ignite has in store for the future."
About Ignite
Ignite is a charitable organisation started by students at the University of Otago, who saw the potential to combine the skills of passionate and talented young students and to help build strategic partnerships with not-for-profit organisations who need their help. The students mix their business skills with entrepreneurial ability to create socially innovative ideas that will spark change and fully maximise the potential of all not-for-profit groups involved.
