A Piping Hot Cup of Bold Flavor and Better Health
A SIFE team in Connecticut is helping an African village sell coffee beans so they can build a health center that is essential to the community's future.
News & Announcements
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ALL TEAMS: NEW JUDGING CRITERIA FOR PROGRAM YEAR 2008-2009
During the last decade, the world has seen a gradual, yet long-overdue focus on the sustainability of our environment. Numerous influential organizations have incorporated social responsibility and environmental programs as core initiatives. The United Nations included a topic on "Environmental Sustainability" as part of its Millennium Development Goals: to help steer the world's focus on this key issue and to converge our energies on making a substantial and lasting difference in our world.
Go here to read more about the new "Environmental Sustainability" criterion.
SIFE National Competitions Continue on Four Continents
From Africa to North America and Europe to Southeast Asia, the number of SIFE National Champion teams doubled in June as 25 national competitions have now been completed. Once all 42 national champions have been determined, each of these champion teams will soon travel to Singapore to battle for the ultimate prize: the 2008 SIFE World Cup.
HSBC Grant Team Reports Due 15 July
If your SIFE team is participating in the HSBC Financial Literacy Programme, be aware that the deadline to submit your report is 15 July. The 2008 HSBC Financial Literacy Report is now available online here, providing easy access for teams to complete reports.
Highlights from Around the World
For the second year, SIFE Germany is offering an internship program for students in conjunction with these major sponsors: Henkel AG & Co., KGaA, KPMG, and METRO Group. These companies are giving SIFE students the opportunity to apply for internships in Barcelona at the sponsors' subsidiaries.
Both SIFE India and the national competition held in June were featured in an article with India's leading Information Technology news site . The piece notes SIFE India's plans for massive organizational growth over the next five years in conjunction with the nation's former president's vision for the new millenium.
Calendar
Note the following dates as you plan your calendar for 2008.
HSBC Financial Literacy Grant Report deadline (15 July)
SIFE National Competitions (continuing through August)
European Symposium (15-16 September - London)
SIFE World Cup (1-3 October - Singapore)
New to the SIFE Network
SIFE World Headquarters Donor Increases
SIFE thanks the following company that recently increased its financial support of SIFE.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation (Increase of $25,000)
Team Tip of the Month
The Art of Writing Job-Search Letters
By carefully considering the purposes and impact of every letter you write, you can enhance your employability.
Perhaps one of the most confusing aspects of finding a job is writing appropriate job-search letters. The job search may be the first time you'll have to compose and produce professional-level correspondence. Accordingly, you face the challenge of deciding both what to say and how to say it for a number of important, unfamiliar situations, such as applying for positions, showing appreciation, and accepting or rejecting offers. Because there is no single formula or model letter that will work well for every occasion, you should give as much careful consideration and attention to detail to your letter-writing as you do to other career planning and job-search activities.
This article introduces you to the art of writing job-search correspondence. It provides a context for letter writing, suggestions for writing style, general guidelines for producing high quality letters, and samples of several types of letters. The information applies to both paper (hard copy) and e-mail letters.
Important Reminder for Teams
All teams are required to submit the 3 key reports outlined below. Should you have any questions, please direct them to SIFE staff from your national office.
Active Team Sheet (online submission at www.SIFE.org/SIFEForms ):
This report is be submitted by SIFE teams only once prior to the regional or national competition date. This report must list the names of all active Faculty Advisors and students. Every team must complete this sheet irrespective of whether or not they compete.
Team Data Sheet (online submission at www.SIFE.org/SIFEForms ):
This sheet provides key information on your team and its activities in the present academic year. The information submitted is used by the SIFE organization only and will not be shared with judges at any competitive event. Every team must complete this sheet irrespective of whether or not they compete.
Project Verification Form (PDF version of the form is available online at www.SIFE.org/SIFEForms - this must be submitted in hardcopy to your SIFE National Office)
This report serves as an internal audit of projects. All teams competing at a regional or national competition must submit a completed and signed Project Verification Form to their SIFE national office before the competition date.