The next time you’re eating out or planning an event, why not make the effort and reach out to a social enterprise instead?
Do you know what a social enterprise is?
It’s a business model that applies commercial strategies to maximize improvements in human and environmental well-being, whilst generating profits for external shareholders. Long story short, they are businesses that help benefit the society.
Businesses can be a force of good and change, but most are concerned with chasing wealth. It’s no wonder there’s such a drastic income disparity-the 8 richest people in the world is worth half of the poorest population’s wealth!
Thankfully, in Singapore, we’re slowly, but surely, seeing a growing list of social enterprises. Here’s 5 you should consider supporting:
1. Eighteen Chefs
The brainchild of Chef Benny Se Teo, this chain of restaurants promises great quality food with a heart.
Chef Benny was an ex-convict, who knew firsthand how difficult it was to find employment. He was a self-taught cook, and after an internship at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant (also a social enterprise), he opened Eighteen Chef.
He makes it a personal mission to hire ex-convicts who want to move forward in life. Some of his managers and chefs are ex-convicts, proving that given a chance and support, the past doesn’t dictate one’s future.
2. Hush Tea Bar
Founder Anthea Ong believes silence can be healing, and found a way to help the hearing-impaired make a living while empowering their ‘gift’. Hush Tea Bar is a travelling teabar that brings the worlds of deaf and hearing together, and tea is served by trained, hearing-impaired Tearistas (short for tea baristas).
Their service, Rush to Hush, is an office experience to give workers a chance to escape stress for a bit. You get to choose your blend of tea (called Tea Moods) and after surrendering your handphone (no distractions allowed), you sit in silence and contemplation as you watch the Tearistas work.
3. Buy 1 Give 1
A B2B social enterprise that wants small-medium businesses to make a real difference in the world with a simple question: “What would happen if we all gave back just by doing the things we do every day?”
Founder Masami Sato believes small amounts can create huge impact. How it works is you sign up to their platform and pledge a portion of your product or service transaction for charity, which can be as little as 1 cents. At the end of the month, you simply input the volume of transactions done, and their system will calculate for you. 100% of your contribution will go to supporting the project(s) of your choice.
4. Innervate Crossfit
Besides creating fitness programs everyone in the family – from little Ah Boy to grandma – can participate in, this business also wants to empower at-risk youth through fitness.
Crossfit equips youths with leadership skills and a sense of community, and it also grooms those interested to become trainers.
It’s also the main organiser of Operation Broken Wing, a regional charity event that raises funds for at-risk youth.
5. Adrenalin Events
This is an events company with a difference. Most events companies are only concerned with putting together the best event for their clients; Adrenalin goes a step further by encouraging clients to do good as well through their extensive network of charity/non-profit and social enterprise sector.
Adrenalin also hires special needs people, such as the deaf and disabled, and at-risk youth.
Why We Should Support Social Enterprise
We have the collective ability to make an impact in people’s lives and help those who are less fortunate than us.
A lot of big corporations, as well as individuals, do contribute to charity. Although it’s commendable, charity can sometimes be that large fish you get to eat once in a while.
Remember this proverb: Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.
Social enterprise is like teaching a man to fish. It’s not just about being charitable, but also making a real difference in people’s lives everyday.
So the next time you’re eating out or planning an event, why not make the effort and reach out to a social enterprise instead?
Visit RaiSE for a more comprehensive listing of social enterprises in Singapore.