The University of Queensland Global Engagement and Entrepreneurship office took on The Sudsy Challenge in 2021, becoming one of the top fundraising teams with over $5000 donated to Orange Sky.
Dubbing themselves UQ Global Warriors, the team was committed to raising as much as possible by keeping its collective kit on for three days.
“The Global Strategy and Partnerships team continues to build a strong leadership cohort of mindsets and the team likes to give back to the community each year,” Senior Manager Zhan Patterson said.
“This year, we were proud to take part in The Sudsy Challenge and raise awareness about homelessness issues here in Australia.”
The UQ Global Warriors were inspired to participate in The Sudsy Challenge by a shared desire to improve the quality of life for people experiencing homelessness, particularly women and survivors of domestic abuse.
“Most of the team members are mums, with some who are single mothers,” she explained.
“The statistics on young adults and women experiencing domestic violence who are homeless and doing it tough really resonated with us.
“We wanted to make a small difference in others’ lives and there is no better way to support that goal than by contributing to a hot shower, clean laundry and genuine caring.”
The Global Engagement and Entrepreneurship office keeps UQ globally connected by identifying and developing partnerships, programs and projects that align with UQ’s strategic vision.
For The Sudsy Challenge, UQ Global Warriors focussed on local concerns, leveraging the University’s extensive academic network to maximise the impact of its efforts.
“Our main goal was to get more people on board with homelessness issues, particularly through the pandemic where many families have been affected,” Ms Patterson said.
“We started with the UQ community here through conversations with staff, students and friends.”
Though UQ Global Warriors are hot contenders to win the inaugural Sudsy Corporate Cup for top fundraiser, Ms Patterson believes the real winners are Orange Sky and the people it helps.
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