Singapore sees launch of 1st festival for social enterprises called FestivalForGood

Social enterprises set up pop-up stalls, together with workshops and live performances aimed at raising public awareness of social enterprises here. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

SINGAPORE - Enterprises under the Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise (raiSE) have created more than 200 jobs and helped more than 3,000 people, said Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin on Saturday (Aug 20).

He said this at the launch of Singapore's first festival for social enterprises FestivalForGood, held at the JTC LaunchPad @ one-north.

He added: "There are many ways that you could contribute, from purchasing from social enterprises to helping spread the word and inviting others to learn more about the social enterprises sector."

More than 1,000 members of the public are expected to attend the festival.

As part of the festival, 50 social enterprises set up pop-up stalls, together with workshops and live performances aimed at raising public awareness of social enterprises here.

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The enterprises which had set up shop at the festival included Flour Power, a bakery that trains people with special needs in baking, and Dialogue in the Dark, which aims to raise awareness about the visually impaired.

The second day of the festival will feature seven workshops, to be held at various social enterprises across the island.

Sector engagement manager for raiSE - Amy Lim - said that though the social enterprises sector is growing and becoming more vibrant and diverse, public awareness has been a problem for many enterprises.

She emphasised that events like the FestivalForGood are necessary.

The festival also marked the launch of the #partofthegood movement, which aims to get more people and organisations to support social enterprises.

As part of its efforts to support the sector , raiSE - which currently counts more than 300 social enterprises as members - will hold its second Singapore Social Enterprise conference later this year in October.

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