SIFE Somaiya does it once again!!

On July 1st 2009, SIFE Somaiya belonging to the Somaiya Social Cell was declared the Western Region Finalist in the Regional round of SIFE competition for the second time.

SIFE, Students in Free Enterprise, is an international network of students, academia and business leaders committed to the cause of bringing betterment to the society. Its mission is to bring together the top leaders of today and tomorrow to create a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business. SIFE works with leaders in business and higher education to mobilize university students to make a difference in their communities while developing the skills to become socially responsible business leaders.

SIFE Somaiya, the SIFE team of K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research, came into being in 2004. It works on the similar lines as SIFE international trying to make the much needed difference in the lives of the underprivileged. It works with the following motto in mind ‘Touching hearts…Challenging destinies…’ The guiding principles of both SIFE and SIFE Somaiya address the same issues thereby making Somaiya work on similar lines as required by the SIFE criteria (A set of criteria required to be satisfied for qualifying the various rounds in the competition among the universities).

Participating students form teams of their university campuses and apply business concepts to develop outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need. An annual series of Regional and National competitions provides a forum for teams to present the results of their projects, and to be evaluated by business leaders serving as judges.
The SIFE Somaiya team has been participating in the SIFE competition every year. The team has been on a winning spree since past three years. The latest feather that was added to its cap was the Regional Winners title. The team presented the work accomplished by them over the past year under Project Warli and Sahas. The team was greatly appreciated by the jury for the commendable work done. On the jury were some important and prominent faces such as Mr Anil Agrawal: DGM-Head-Finance at Syntel Ltd, Mr. Amit Arora: National Head at Reliance Money, Mr. Ujjwal Banerjee: Executive Director of Anupam Kher Foundation and many more dignitaries from KPMG, Syntel, Reliance Money, PWC, HSBC and the likes.
The team had a tough contest against well established and competent teams from around the western region. At the nationals there was a close contest between Alpha College and SIFE Somaiya. Somaiya finished second in the league just a few points behind Alpha College.
Other achievements under the SIFE umbrella have been the HSBC Financial Literacy Grant for consecutive years from 2006 to 2009, the KPMG grant in 2008 & 2009 for ethical business practices and the Syntel Seed Grant for 2009.
The SIFE competition is thus a medium for teams to show the world the revolution that is taking place.