Marketplace celebrates Social Enterprise Day and Global Entrepreneurship Week
In celebration of Social Enterprise Day and to raise the profile of social entrepreneurship practices among the public, ‘ExperienSE: Social Entrepreneurship’ was a first of its kind event in Malaysia held from 23 to 24 November 2019 at Publika Shopping Gallery.
Jointly organised by the British Council, Chamber of Social Entrepreneur Development Malaysia (CSED), Biji-biji Initiative, and Me.reka, the event was officiated by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development Malaysia, Datuk Wan Suraya Wan Mohd Radzi.
“The British Council is happy to organise this celebration in collaboration with CSED and other partners in conjunction with Social Enterprise Day on 21 November 2019 and as part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week.
“We aim to contribute to inclusive economic growth in Malaysia through our social enterprise programme, increasing knowledge and awareness of social enterprise and responsible consumerism. ExperienSE is a platform for social enterprises to network with ecosystem enablers, and to forge new connections and collaborations towards greater opportunities and impact for the sector,” said Sarah Deverall, Director Malaysia, British Council.
ExperienSE provided visibility and exposure on the initiatives that have taken place and are undergoing, to educate, build understanding, as well as garner deep appreciation of social entrepreneurship for a better society and environment.
This is aligned with the National Entrepreneurship Policy 2030’s Strategic Thrust 3 (Strategy C3) to promote social entrepreneurship and position Malaysia as an outstanding entrepreneurial nation by year 2030.
A wide range of activities for everyone from families with young kids to environmentally conscious individuals were held at ExperienSE. Highlights included ‘PurchaSE’ with booths selling products and services by social entrepreneurs, ‘ImmerSE’ with live demos and workshops, ‘ConverSE’ with engaging talks, and a collection drive for unwanted fabrics, plastics, and e-waste.
The British Council also presented key findings from The State of Social Enterprise in Malaysia report, which was launched in March this year. ExperienSE aimed to address the lack of public awareness of the sector, a major finding from report.
The report also indicated that most social enterprises (62 per cent) say they lack knowledge of existing and workable social business models, making this their top financial challenge. The report stated that unleashing the full potential of social enterprises requires an improvement of system-wide coordination between ecosystem enablers to address the geographical divide in terms of support and awareness building.
The British Council’s work helps people and institutions contribute to a more inclusive, open and prosperous world to bring about positive change in their societies. Through our programmes developed in partnership with local and international organisations we address issues such as social inclusion, accountability, entrepreneurship and active citizenship.
Using our deep understanding of local contexts and the trust earned through long-standing commitment we enable young people, communities and governments to make positive change for the benefit of all.
