A social enterprise that produced reusable face masks won notice at the Enactus Canada Regional Competition, finishing as a runner-up for financial education.

The Liberty Project is a venture of Enactus Windsor, supported by the Odette School of Business and Libro Credit Union, that provides consultation and transitional employment to women who have overcome human trafficking, addiction, and trauma.

Previously, its clients sewed reusable menstrual pads for distribution to women in developing countries. With the pandemic, its operations shifted to masks, a product easier to teach participants over Zoom and that filled a need in the local community.

Staff at the House of Sophrosyne delivered materials and sewing machines to participants, who produced some 350 masks, a large portion of which were donated to three non-profit agencies: the House of Sophrosyne, the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women and Children, and the Aboriginal Children Centre. Three of the clients found full time employment following the program.

The student team has also launched an e-commerce platform to sell Liberty-branded merchandise, re-investing the proceeds into the project. Shop the collection.